The Potential of Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cells in Differentiation to Epidermal Lineage: A Preliminary Report.
BACKGROUND
Menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) are a novel source of stem cells that can be easily isolated non-invasively from female volunteered donor without ethical consideration. These mesenchymal-like stem cells have high rate of proliferation and possess multi lineage differentiation potency. This study was undertaken to isolate the MenSCs and assess their potential in differentiation into epidermal lineage.


METHODS
About 5-10 ml of menstrual blood (MB) was collected using sterile Diva cups inserted into vagina during menstruation from volunteered healthy fertile women aged between 22-30 years. MB was transferred into Falcon tubes containing phosphate buffered saline (PBS) without Ca2(+) or Mg2(+) supplemented with 2.5 µg/ml fungizone, 100 µg/mL streptomycin, 100 U/mL penicillin and 0.5 mM EDTA. Mononuclear cells were separated using Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation and washed out in PBS. The cell pellet was suspended in DMEM-F12 medium supplemented with 10% FBS and cultured in tissue culture plates. The isolated cells were co-cultured with keratinocytes derived from the foreskin of healthy newborn male aged 2-10 months who was a candidate for circumcision for differentiation into epidermal lineage.


RESULTS
The isolated MenSCs were adhered to the plate and exhibited spindle-shaped morphology. Flow cytometric analysis revealed the expression of mesenchymal markers of CD10, CD29, CD73, and CD105 and lack of hematopoietic stem cells markers. An early success in derivation of epidermal lineage from MenSCs was visible.


CONCLUSIONS
The MenSCs are a real source to design differentiation to epidermal cells that can be used non-invasively in various dermatological lesions and diseases.
Department of Infectious Diseases, Larestan School of Medical Sciensce, Larestan, Iran;
Hossein
H
Faramarzi
Stem Cell and Transgenic Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran;; Department of Regenerative Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada;
Davood
D
Mehrabani
Department of Anatomical Sciences, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran;
Maryam
M
Fard
Department of Anatomical Sciences, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran;
Maryam
M
Akhavan
Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
Sona
S
Zare
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
Shabnam
S
Bakhshalizadeh
Department of Medicine, Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
Amir
A
Manafi
Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran;
Somaieh
S
Kazemnejad
Department of Anatomical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Reza
R
Shirazi
Differentiation; Epidermal lineage; Menstrual blood-derived stem cells