title: Comparative study of stemness characteristics of mesenchymal cells from bone marrow of children and adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Age-related changes that could affect the biologic features of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), such as a decrease in proliferation and osteoblast differentiation capacity and an increase of senescence markers and apoptosis, have been reported recently. The aim of this study was the evaluation of age-related characteristics and the correlation of age with the functional properties of MSC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The doubling time (DT), colony-forming unit–fibroblast (CFU-F) colonies and surface antigen expression of MSC isolated from bone marrow (BM) of children (C-MSC) were compared with those from adults (A-MSC). The expression of Oct-4 and Nanog transcripts and the relative telomere length were evaluated in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DT values were lower in C-MSC compared with A-MSC, and a higher CFU-F count was observed in children. However, the expression of Oct-4 and Nanog did not differ between C-MSC and A-MSC and was not correlated with the proliferative capacity. The telomere length was significantly higher in C-MSC compared with A-MSC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that children's BM-derived MSC could be a more advantageous source of these cells for tissue engineering and cell therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Despoina M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Choumerianou
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martimianaki
authors.forename: Eftichia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stiakaki
authors.forename: Lida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kalmanti
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalmanti
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dimitriou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C486780:NANOG protein, human; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3