title: Generation of Mesenchymal-Like Stem Cells From Urine in Pediatric Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely used for regenerative medicine. Traditionally, the procedures of MSC isolation are usually invasive and time-consuming. Urine is merely a body waste, and recent studies have suggested that urine represents an alternative source of stem cells. We, therefore, determined whether the possibility of isolating mesenchymal-like stem cells was practical from human urine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 16 urine samples were collected from pediatric patients. Urine-derived cells were isolated, expanded, and identified for specific cell surface markers using flow cytometry. Cell morphology was observed by microscopy. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential were determinded by culturing cells in specific induction medium, and assessed by alkaline phosphatase and oil red O stainings, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clones were established and passaged successfully from primary cultures of urine cells. Cultured urine-derived cells at passage 3 were fusiform and arranged with certain directionality. Urine-derived cells at passage 5 displayed expressions of cell surface markers (CD29, CD105, CD166, CD90, and CD13). There was no expression of the general hematopoietic cell markers (CD45, CD34, and HLA-DR). Under in vitro induction conditions, urine-derived cells at passage 5 were able to differentiate into osteoblasts, but not adipocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urine may be a noninvasive source for mesenchymal-like stem cells. These cells could potentially provide a new source of autologous stem cells for regenerative medicine and cell therapy.
authors: Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Jiangxi, China; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: He
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Zhu
authors: Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Jiangxi, China; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China.
authors: Q
authors: Q
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Shen
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China.
authors: Q
authors: Q
authors: Zhou
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China.
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Institute of Cardiovascular Science, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Jiangsu, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Jiangxi, China; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China. Electronic address: hongkui88@163.com.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hong
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface