title: Potential of placental-derived human mesenchymal stem cells for osteogenesis and neurogenesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Placenta can become an attractive source of stem cells due to its known richness in cell number and accessible, non-invasive procedures to harvest them. The purpose of this study focuses on the pluripotecy of placental-derived mesenchymal stem cells through differentiation towards osteogenic and neurogenic lineages.
  
  
  METHODS
  The biological material was represented by populations of human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from chorionic villi (h-CMSCs) and amniotic membranes (h-AMSCs) of full-term placenta. The potential of h-CMSCs and h-AMSCs was assessed trough growth kinetics, differentiation towards osteogenic and neurogenic lineages and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human chorionic and amniotic mesenchymal stem cells are CD44+ (adult mesenchymal stem cell marker), CD45-, CD34- (adult hematopoietic stem cell markers) and display specific osteogenic and neurogenic morphology. The immunohistochemistry assays show the presence of Osteopontin+ and Osteonectin+ cells (osteogenic differentiation) as well as Synaptophysin+, GFAP+ and S100+ cells (confirming the glial differentiation) and NSE+ cells, indicators of neuronal differentiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Placental-derived mesenchymal stem cells show remarkable differentiation potential under appropriate culture conditions. The expressions of osteogenic and neurogenic markers support the conclusion that placenta is an excellent mesenchymal stem cell source for osteogenesis as well as neurogenesis. Future research in this area will identify the best clinical applications for this new source of stem cells.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; dariagroza@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Daria Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pop
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: SoriŢău
authors.forename: Sergiu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Şuşman
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rus-Ciucă
authors.forename: Ioan Ştefan
authors.initials: IŞ
authors.lastname: Groza
authors.forename: Răzvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciortea
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mihu
authors.forename: Carmen Mihaela
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mihu
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008853:Microscopy; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003470:Culture Media