title: Human amniotic fluid stem cells support undifferentiated propagation and pluripotency of human embryonic stem cell without b-FGF in a density dependent manner.
abstract: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are pluripotent cells which can give rise to almost all adult cell lineages. Culture system of hESCs is complex, requiring exogenous b-FGF and feeder cell layer. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) not only synthesize soluble cytokines or factors such as b-FGF, but also provide other mechanism which might play positive role on sustaining hESCs propagation and pluripotency. Human amniotic fluid stem (AFS) cells, which share characteristics of both embryonic and adult stem cells, have been regarded as promising cells for regenerative medicine. Taking advantage by AFS cells, we studied the ability of AFS cells in supporting undifferentiated propagation and pluripotency of Chinese population derived X-01 hESCs. Human AF-type amniotic fluid stem cells (hAF-AFSCs) transcribed genes including Activin A, TGF-β1, Noggin and b-FGF, which involved in maintaining pluripotency and self-renewal of hESCs. Compared to mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), hAF-AFSCs secreted higher concentration of b-FGF which was important in hESCs culture (P < 0.05). The hESCs were propagated more than 30 passages on hAF-AFSCs layer with exogenous b-FGF supplementation, keeping undifferentiated status. While exogenous b-FGF was obviated, propagation of hESCs with undifferentiated status was dependent on density of hAF-AFSC feeder layer. Lower density of hAF-AFSCs resulted in rapid decline in undifferentiated clone number, while higher ones hindered the growth of colonies. The most appropriate hAF-AFSCs feeder density to maintain the X-01 hESC line without exogenous b-FGF was 15-20×10(4)/well. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that hAF-AFSCs could support undifferentiated propagation and pluripotency of Chinese population derived hESCs without exogenous b-FGF supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaorong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Jiashan Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Huanqi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Huadong Hospital, Shanghai Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shujia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yueting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Tianxiang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D061252:Feeder Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
keywords: Human embryonic stem cells; b-FGF; feeder cell; pluripotency