title: Human Non-Hematopoietic CD271pos/CD140alow/negBone Marrow Stroma Cells Fulfill Stringent Stem Cell Criteria in Serial Transplantations.
abstract: Human bone marrow contains a population of non-hematopoietic stromal stem/progenitor cells (BMSCs), which play a central role for bone marrow stroma and the hematopoietic microenvironment. However, the precise characteristics and potential stem cell properties of defined BMSC populations have not yet been thoroughly investigated. Using standard adherent colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) assays, we have previously shown that BMSCs were highly enriched in the nonhematopoietic CD271pos/CD140alow/negfraction of normal adult human bone marrow. In this study, we demonstrate that prospectively isolated CD271pos/CD140alow/negBMSCs expressed high levels of hematopoiesis supporting genes and signature mesenchymal and multipotency genes on a single cell basis. Furthermore, CD271pos/CD140alow/negBMSCs gave rise to non-adherent sphere colonies (mesenspheres) with typical surface marker profile and trilineage in vitro differentiation potential. Importantly, serial transplantations of CD271pos/CD140alow/negBMSC-derived mesenspheres (single cell and bulk) into immunodeficient NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice showed increased mesensphere numbers and full differentiation potential after both primary and secondary transplantations. In contrast, BMSC self-renewal potential decreased under standard adherent culture conditions. These data therefore indicate that CD271pos/CD140alow/negBMSCs represent a population of primary stem cells with MSC phenotype and sphere-forming capacity that fulfill stringent functional stem cell criteria in vivo in a serial transplantation setting.
authors.affiliation: 1 Lund Stem Cell Center, University of Lund , Lund, Sweden .|2 Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Lund , Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Roshanak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghazanfari
authors.affiliation: 1 Lund Stem Cell Center, University of Lund , Lund, Sweden .|2 Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Lund , Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hongzhe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1 Lund Stem Cell Center, University of Lund , Lund, Sweden .|2 Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Lund , Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zacharaki
authors.affiliation: 1 Lund Stem Cell Center, University of Lund , Lund, Sweden .|2 Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Lund , Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hooi Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: 1 Lund Stem Cell Center, University of Lund , Lund, Sweden .|2 Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Lund , Lund, Sweden.|3 Department of Hematology, Skåne University Hospital , Lund, Sweden .
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scheding
keywords: BMSC; bone marrow stromal cells; mesenspheres; self-renewal; serial transplantation; stem cells