title: Molecular characterization and in vitro differentiation of feline progenitor-like amniotic epithelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While amniotic mesenchymal cells have been isolated and characterized in different species, amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) have been found only in humans and horses and are recently considered valid candidates in regenerative medicine. The aim of this work is to obtain and characterize, for the first time in the feline species, presumptive stem cells from the epithelial portion of the amnion (AECs) to be used for clinical applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study, we molecularly characterized and induced in vitro differentiation of feline AECs, obtained after enzymatic digestion of amnion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AECs displayed a polygonal morphology and the mean doubling time value was 1.94 ± 0.04 days demonstrating the high proliferating capacity of these cells. By RT-PCR, AECs expressed pluripotent (Oct4, Nanog) and some mesenchymal markers (CD166, CD44) suggesting that an epithelial-mesenchymal transition may occur in these cells that lack the hematopoietic marker CD34. Cells also showed the expression of embryonic marker SSEA-4, but not SSEA-3, as demonstrated by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. Moreover, the possibility to use feline AECs in cell therapies resides in their low immunogenicity, due to the absence of MHC-II antigen expression. After induction, AECs differentiated into the mesodermic and ectodermic lineages, demonstrating high plasticity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, feline AECs appear to be a readily obtainable, highly proliferative, multipotent and non-immunogenic cell line from a source that may represent a good model system for stem cell biology and be useful in allogenic cell-based therapies in order to treat tissue lesions, especially with loss of substance.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rutigliano
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Corradetti
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bizzaro
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meucci
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cremonesi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lange-Consiglio
mesh_terms: D020410:Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002415:Cats; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000166:cytology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055746:Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020410:Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D055746:Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens; C066584:stage-specific embryonic antigen-4