title: Pluripotent gene expression in mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly and their differentiation potential to neural-like cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression of pluripotent genes in Whartons jelly derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) and their neuronal differentiation potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gelatinous connective tissues from umbilical cord Wharton's jelly were digested with trypsin and then cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium. The expressions of typical MSC markers as well as pluripotent markers were examined by flow cytometry and reverse transcription PCR, respectively. MSCs at passage 3 and 5 were used for in vitro adipogenic, osteogenic and neuronal differentiation by incubation with specific induction media.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WJ-MSCs could be easily expanded for more than 20 passages while maintaining their undifferentiated state and their marker expression profiles, being positive for typical MSC markers CD90, CD73, and CD105, and being negative for hematopoietic markers CD34 and CD45. Interestingly, the expression of several pluripotent marker genes including Oct4, Rex1, Sox2, and Nanog was detected in early passages of both cultured WJ-MSCs and BM-MSCs. WJ-MSCs were able to differentiate not only to mesodermal cells, such as adipocyte and osteoblast but also the neural-like cells as characterized by neuronal morphology and the expression of neuronal markers including MAP-2, GFAP, beta-tubulin III and Tau.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates that WJ-MSCs can be readily obtained and expanded in culture while maintaining their typical MSC characteristics. WJ-MSCs and BM-MSCs also expressed several genes associated with pluripotency and exhibited their plasticity by differentiation toward neuronal-cell lineage. Umbilical cord Wharton's jelly might have potential to become an alternative source of MSC for treating nervous system disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand. Talent3003@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Chairat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tantrawatpan
authors.forename: Sirikul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manochantr
authors.forename: Pakpoom
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kheolamai
authors.forename: Yaowalak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: U-Pratya
authors.forename: Aungkura
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Supokawej
authors.forename: Surapol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Issaragrisil
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D010784:Photomicrography; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D059631:Wharton Jelly
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors