title: [Growth and migration of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on polycarbonate membrane with different pore sizes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the growth and migration of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) on polycarbonate membrane with different pore sizes and explore the criteria of selecting optimal Transwell insert for indirect co-culture to induce the differentiation of hUCMSCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  hUCMSCs were isolated in vitro and then expanded in culture medium. After the treatment of mitomycin C, the cells were seeded on porous membranes of 6-well-dish Transwell inserts with different pore sizes of 0.4, 3.0 and 8.0 µm respectively. After culturing for 7 days, the cells were observed and counted on the bottom of each porous membrane. Then the calculation of migration ratio was performed. The growth and migration of hUCMSCs on porous membranes were also examined under scanning electron microscope (SEM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The migration ratios of hUCMSCs on membranes of 0.4, 3.0 and 8.0 µm pore sizes were 0, 1.8% and 8.0% respectively. The migration ratio of cells on 0.4 µm pore size membrane was statistically different from that of the other two pore size groups (P < 0.01). Under SEM, a small portion of cells were growing on the bottoms of membranes and moving through the pores. But there was no cell movement through 0.4 µm pore size membrane.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hUCMSCs can migrate through the polycarbonate membranes of 3.0 µm and 8.0 µm pore sizes but not through the 0.4 µm one. Thus both sides of polycarbonate membrane of 0.4 µm pore size may be used for close indirect co-culture to induce the differentiation of hUCMSCs.
authors: Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors: Dong-jie
authors: DJ
authors: Li
authors: Jia-ke
authors: JK
authors: Chai
authors: Yan-fu
authors: YF
authors: Han
authors: Tian-jun
authors: TJ
authors: Sun
authors: Hu-ping
authors: HP
authors: Deng
authors: Jing-yu
authors: JY
authors: Zhao
authors: Ling-ying
authors: LY
authors: Liu