Self-renewal and differentiation capacity of urine-derived stem cells after urine preservation for 24 hours.
Despite successful approaches to preserve organs, tissues, and isolated cells, the maintenance of stem cell viability and function in body fluids during storage for cell distribution and transportation remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to characterize urine-derived stem cells (USCs) after optimal preservation of urine specimens for up to 24 hours. A total of 415 urine specimens were collected from 12 healthy men (age range 20-54 years old). About 6 × 10(4) cells shed off from the urinary tract system in 24 hours. At least 100 USC clones were obtained from the stored urine specimens after 24 hours and maintained similar biological features to fresh USCs. The stored USCs had a "rice grain" shape in primary culture, and expressed mesenchymal stem cell surface markers, high telomerase activity, and normal karyotypes. Importantly, the preserved cells retained bipotent differentiation capacity. Differentiated USCs expressed myogenic specific proteins and contractile function when exposed to myogenic differentiation medium, and they expressed urothelial cell-specific markers and barrier function when exposed to urothelial differentiation medium. These data demonstrated that up to 75% of fresh USCs can be safely persevered in urine for 24 hours and that these cells stored in urine retain their original stem cell properties, indicating that preserved USCs could be available for potential use in cell-based therapy or clinical diagnosis.
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Ren
R
Lang
Guihua
G
Liu
Yingai
Y
Shi
Shantaram
S
Bharadwaj
Xiaoyan
X
Leng
Xiaobo
X
Zhou
Hong
H
Liu
Anthony
A
Atala
Yuanyuan
Y
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D059785:Karyotype; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology*; D060167:Uroplakin Ia / Q000378:metabolism; D019459:Urothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D003893:Desmin; D060167:Uroplakin Ia; D007633:Keratins; D019098:Telomerase; D009218:Myosins