Effect of ultrasound on human umbilical cord peri-vascular cells

Abstract

Background: Tissue engineering involves using different types of stem cells. One of the roadblocks in tissue engineering is the scant supply of stem cells. The potential use of human umbilical cord peri-vascular Cells (HUCPVCs) has recently been considered as an important cell source for tissue engineering applications. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on HUCPVCs. Materials and methods: HUCPVCs were divided into two groups: treatment group which received 30 mW/cm2 LIPUS for 10 minutes (1, 7, and 14 days) and control group which received sham treatment. The study groups were evaluated for cell count, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, DNA-content, gene expression, and immunophenotype. Results: There was no significant differences in cell count, ALP, DNA-content, and CD-90 between LIPUS and control groups. A significantly higher expression of OSP and PCNA was observed on day 14 in LIPUS treatment group. Conclusion: LIPUS application for 10 minutes per day for 14 days enhanced OSP and PCNA expression without significant increase in cell count of HUCPVCs. Future research may aim at exploring different LIPUS applications (different time and frequency) to optimize HUCPVCs proliferation.