Stem cell-like properties of human umbilical cord lining epithelial cells and the potential for epidermal reconstitution.
OBJECTIVE
Stem cells are particularly attractive for many cell-based therapeutic interventions because of their ability to self-renew and their capacity to differentiate into site-specific differentiating cells. Restoration of the integrity of epithelial continuity is an essential aspect of wound repair and tissue regeneration. We are currently looking at the potential of human umbilical cord lining cells as a source of epithelial stem cells with appropriate differentiation capacity for potential epidermal reconstitution.


METHODS
We isolated human umbilical cord lining epithelial cells (CLEC) and characterized their phenotype from the perspective of proliferative potential, telomere length, expression of epidermal differentiation markers, as well as stem cell-specific markers, and clonogenicity. Their potential for epidermal reconstitution was investigated in an organotypic culture model.


RESULTS
The results demonstrated that CLEC present a long telomere length and have a relatively high proliferative potential and passaging ability in culture. CLEC display some of the stem cell-specific markers for epithelial as well as pluripotent stem cells, including CK19, p63, OCT-4, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, SOX2 and Nanog. CLEC are capable of generating a fully stratified epithelium in organotypic culture.


CONCLUSIONS
The potential of CLEC to be used in clinical applications for specialized epithelial reconstruction is still unexplored. The demonstration that CLEC have stem cell-like properties and are capable of generating fully stratified epithelium provides support for their potential clinical application in epidermal reconstitution.
Huang
Lin
L
Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Wong
Yim-Ping
YP
Gu
Hua
H
Cai
Yi-Jun
YJ
Ho
Yeung
Y
Wang
Chi-Chiu
CC
Leung
Tak-Yeung
TY
Burd
Andrew
A
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D012038:Regeneration; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing
D015415:Biomarkers; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014157:Transcription Factors