title: Pluripotent stem cells isolated from umbilical cord form embryonic like bodies in a mesenchymal layer culture.
abstract: Recently the matrix of umbilical cord began to use as an alternative source of stem cells additionally to the blood of umbilical cord. Umbilical cord has been used mainly for mesenchymal stem cell banking. The immunological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells in combination with their ability to avoid rejection make them an attractive biological material for transplantations. In this study the isolation of small in size pluripotent stem cells from umbilical cord expressing early transcription factors with characteristics that resemble to embryonic stem cells is investigated. Pluripotent stem cells were isolated from human umbilical cords, by a new strategy method based on unique characteristics such as the small size and the positivity on early transcription factors OCT and Nanog. An enriched population of CXCR4(+) OCT(+) Nanog(+) CD45(-) small stem cells from the cord was isolated. This fraction was able to create alkaline phosphatase positive like spheres forms in a mesenchymal layer with multilineage differentiation capacity. Our results were assessed by RT PCR and electophoresis for the pluripotent genes. These data suggest that umbilical cord provides an attractive source not only of mesenchymal stem cells but moreover of pluripotent stem cells. The method described herein should be applied in the field of stem cell banking in addition to the classical umbilical cord harvesting method. Isolation of a population of cells with pluripotent characteristics from umbilical cord. Adoption of a second centrifugation step for the pluripotent stem isolation. Increasing the value of the cord and explaining the pluripotency. This work will enhance the value of umbilical cord harvesting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Democritus University of Thrace Greece. tsagiasnikos@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsagias
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology Embryology, Medical school, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Greece. kouzi@biohellenika.gr.
authors.forename: Kokkona
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kouzi-Koliakos
authors.affiliation: 3rd University Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Ippokration General Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. magdacab@med.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karagiannis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Democritus University of Thrace Greece. ptsikouras@med.duth.gr.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsikouras
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Greece. koliakos@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: George G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Koliakos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D048429:Cell Size; D002498:Centrifugation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase