ObjectiveWe sought to characterize markers of pluripotency in amniotic fluid derived cells as a non-controversial and readily available source of potentially therapeutic stem cells.Study DesignAmniotic fluid stem cells (AFSC) express stem cell surface markers as well as transcription factors. Isolation and enrichment of the stem cell population is essential to their therapeutic potential. We studied expression of stem cell surface markers CD 117, CD 133, SSEA3, SSEA4, TRA 160, TRA 181 and CD90; as well as transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and REX 1 by magnetic bead separation, flow cytometry analysis and PCR for transcription factors. Samples were obtained after cytogenetic analysis following routine amniocentesis for age or maternal anxiety in 10 normal patients. Cells were cultured for up to seven passages with analysis after confluence.ResultsThere was great variation in different samples ability to express the different markers. The most prevalent marker was CD90, a mesenchymal stem cell factor; followed by SSEA4 and TRA160, both embryonic stem cell markers. The other markers were significantly present as well (SSEA3, TRA 160, TRA 181,CD90,OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and REX 1), however CD 117 and CD 133 were often undetectable or present in small amounts.ConclusionTabled 1 ObjectiveWe sought to characterize markers of pluripotency in amniotic fluid derived cells as a non-controversial and readily available source of potentially therapeutic stem cells. We sought to characterize markers of pluripotency in amniotic fluid derived cells as a non-controversial and readily available source of potentially therapeutic stem cells. Study DesignAmniotic fluid stem cells (AFSC) express stem cell surface markers as well as transcription factors. Isolation and enrichment of the stem cell population is essential to their therapeutic potential. We studied expression of stem cell surface markers CD 117, CD 133, SSEA3, SSEA4, TRA 160, TRA 181 and CD90; as well as transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and REX 1 by magnetic bead separation, flow cytometry analysis and PCR for transcription factors. Samples were obtained after cytogenetic analysis following routine amniocentesis for age or maternal anxiety in 10 normal patients. Cells were cultured for up to seven passages with analysis after confluence. Amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSC) express stem cell surface markers as well as transcription factors. Isolation and enrichment of the stem cell population is essential to their therapeutic potential. We studied expression of stem cell surface markers CD 117, CD 133, SSEA3, SSEA4, TRA 160, TRA 181 and CD90; as well as transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and REX 1 by magnetic bead separation, flow cytometry analysis and PCR for transcription factors. Samples were obtained after cytogenetic analysis following routine amniocentesis for age or maternal anxiety in 10 normal patients. Cells were cultured for up to seven passages with analysis after confluence. ResultsThere was great variation in different samples ability to express the different markers. The most prevalent marker was CD90, a mesenchymal stem cell factor; followed by SSEA4 and TRA160, both embryonic stem cell markers. The other markers were significantly present as well (SSEA3, TRA 160, TRA 181,CD90,OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and REX 1), however CD 117 and CD 133 were often undetectable or present in small amounts. There was great variation in different samples ability to express the different markers. The most prevalent marker was CD90, a mesenchymal stem cell factor; followed by SSEA4 and TRA160, both embryonic stem cell markers. The other markers were significantly present as well (SSEA3, TRA 160, TRA 181,CD90,OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and REX 1), however CD 117 and CD 133 were often undetectable or present in small amounts. ConclusionTabled 1