Multi-lineage differentiation of human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stromal Cells mediates changes in the expression profile of stemness markers

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 4; p. e0122465
• Main Authors: Ali, Hamad, Al-Yatama, Majda K, Abu-Farha, Mohamed, Behbehani, Kazem, Al Madhoun, Ashraf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 07-04-2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adipogenesis; Adult; Analysis; Antigens; Antigens, Differentiation - biosynthesis; Biocompatibility; Biomarkers; Biomedical materials; Bone marrow; CD105 antigen; CD29 antigen; CD44 antigen; CD73 antigen; CD90 antigen; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell Differentiation; Cell self-renewal; Cells, Cultured; Chondrogenesis; Diabetes; Differentiation; Ethics; Female; Flow cytometry; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Health sciences; Humans; Immunofluorescence; Immunomodulation; Infant, Newborn; Laboratories; Male; Mesenchymal stem cells; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - metabolism; Mesenchyme; Molecular biology; Osteogenesis; Regenerative medicine; Signal transduction; Stem cells; Stromal cells; Surface markers; Umbilical cord; Umbilical Cord - cytology; Umbilical Cord - metabolism; Kuwait
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122465

Wharton's Jelly- derived Mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) have gained interest as an alternative source of stem cells for regenerative medicine because of their potential for self-renewal, differentiation and unique immunomodulatory properties. Although many studies have characterized various WJ-MSCs biologically, the expression profiles of the commonly used stemness markers have not yet been addressed. In this study, WJ-MSCs were isolated and characterized for stemness and surface markers expression. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR analysis revealed predominant expression of CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 and CD166 in WJ-MSCs, while the hematopoietic and endothelial markers were absent. Differential expression of CD 29, CD90, CD105 and CD166 following adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic induction was observed. Furthermore, our results demonstrated a reduction in CD44 and CD73 expressions in response to the tri-lineage differentiation induction, suggesting that they can be used as reliable stemness markers, since their expression was associated with undifferentiated WJ-MSCs only.