title: Isolation of human umbilical cord blood-derived osteoprogenitor cells: a promising candidate for cell-based therapy for bone repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic potential of human umbilical cord blood-derived osteoprogenitor cells and to prove its applicability as a promising candidate for cell-based therapeutics for bone repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary cultures of human umbilical blood cord adherent cells were expanded in vitro until passage 2 and seeded for osteodifferentiation study. Morphological (light microscopy), cytochemical (Von Kossa's method), and functional analyses (calcium level, alkaline phosphatase activity, and total protein content in cell culture) were carried out 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the osteoinduction protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proliferative step showed colony-forming units in 7 days. After osteoinduction, cuboidal cellular morphology similar to osteoblasts at 14 days and mineralization nodules and biochemical changes (increased alkaline phosphatase level and calcium deposits) at 21 days confirmed the osteodifferentiation process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cell culture of human umbilical blood cord is a reliable technique, constituting itself as an alternative source of osteoprogenitor cells for experimental needs. More animal tests and clinical trials must be carried out to validate its use and to establish quality control of future autologous or allogeneic cell-based therapy aimed at bone repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Igor Iuco
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Castro-Silva
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Letícia de Oliveira
authors.initials: Lde O
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Cryopraxis Criobiologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Janaína José Dos Santos
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Cryopraxis Criobiologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: Maria Helena Alves
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nicola
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Padronização e Qualidade Industrial - DIPRO-INMETRO, Duque de Caxias, RJ, BR.
authors.forename: José Mauro
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Granjeiro