Abstract
BackgroundHuman umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) are in the foreground as a preferable application for treating diseases. However, the safety of hUC-MSCs after long-term culturing in vitro in serum-free medium remains unclear.MethodshUC-MSCs were separated by adherent tissue culture. hUC-MSCs were cultured in serum-free MesenCult-XF medium and FBS-bases DMEM complete medium. At the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 10th, and 15th passage, the differentiation of MSCs into osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic cells was detected, and MTT, surface antigens were measured. Tumorigenicity was analyzed at the 15th passage. Conventional karyotyping was performed at passage 0, 8, and 15. The telomerase activity of hUC-MSCs at passage 1–15 was analyzed.ResultsFlow cytometry analysis showed that very high expression was detected for CD105, CD73, and CD90 and very low expression for CD45, CD34, CD14, CD79a, and HLA-DR. MSCs could differentiate into osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes in vitro. There was no obvious chromosome elimination, displacement, or chromosomal imbalance as determined from the guidelines of the International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature. Telomerase activity was down-regulated significantly when the culture time was prolonged. Further, no tumors formed in rats injected with hUC-MSCs (P15) cultured in serum-free and in serum-containing conditions.ConclusionOur data showed that hUC-MSCs met the International Society for Cellular Therapy standards for conditions of long-term in vitro culturing at P15. Since hUC-MSCs can be safely expanded in vitro and are not susceptible to malignant transformation in serum-free medium, these cells are suitable for cell therapy.
Highlights
The presence of MSCs has been demonstrated in various fetal and adult tissues, including bone marrow, fetal blood and liver, cord blood, amniotic fluid and, in some circumstances, peripheral blood in adults. hUC-MSCs hold great promise as therapeutic agents in regenerative medicine [1],[2]
MSCs from all of the above sources can undergo extensive proliferation in vitro and, when cultured under specific conditions, they retain the ability to differentiate into multiple lineages, including bone [3], cartilage, fat, muscle [4]and stromal cells
The use of MSCs requires large-scale in vitro expansion, which increases the probability of malignant transformation
Summary
The presence of MSCs has been demonstrated in various fetal and adult tissues, including bone marrow, fetal blood and liver, cord blood, amniotic fluid and, in some circumstances, peripheral blood in adults. hUC-MSCs hold great promise as therapeutic agents in regenerative medicine [1],[2]. MSCs from all of the above sources can undergo extensive proliferation in vitro and, when cultured under specific conditions, they retain the ability to differentiate into multiple lineages, including bone [3], cartilage, fat, muscle [4]and stromal cells. These cells have attracted considerable interest both because of their value as a model for studying the molecular basis of differentiation and for their therapeutic potential in tissue repair and immune modulation [5]. The safety of hUC-MSCs after long-term culturing in vitro in serum-free medium remains unclear
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
