title: The isolation and in situ identification of MSCs residing in loose connective tissues using a niche-preserving organ culture system.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been discovered in a multitude of organs, but their distribution and identity are still uncertain. Furthermore, loose connective tissue (LCT) is dispersed throughout virtually all organs, but its biological role in tissue homeostasis is unclear. Here, we describe a unique organ culture system to explore the omnipresence and in situ identity of MSCs among the LCTs. This culture system included the use of the fibrin hydrogel coupled with dynamic culture conditions, using native LCTs obtained from various organs as starting materials. This culture allowed MSC outgrowth into the hydrogel to be robustly supported, while maintaining the structural integrity of LCTs during in vitro culture. Subcultured outgrown cells fulfilled the minimal requirements for defining MSCs on the basis of clonogenicity, multipotency, and immunophenotypic characteristics. In vitro label-retaining assay demonstrated that the numbers of mobilized and proliferated cells in situ increased in the pericapillary region and expressed both MSCs and pericytes markers, indicating that the in situ identity of MSCs represents a certain population of pericapillary pericytes. Our results indicate that this culture system affords a unique strategy for both isolating MSCs and recapitulating their niche in LCTs.
authors.affiliation: Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyeong-In
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jong Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Chung Mu
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Won Hee
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Young-Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Soon-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Chang Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Dae Kyeong
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003238:Connective Tissue; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D020286:Pericytes / Q000166:cytology; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005337:Fibrin