Mesenchymal stem cells in human second-trimester bone marrow, liver, lung, and spleen exhibit a similar immunophenotype but a heterogeneous multilineage differentiation potential

• Published in: Haematologica (Roma) Vol. 88; no. 8; pp. 845 - 852
• Main Authors: in 't Anker, PS, Noort, WA, Scherjon, SA, Kleijburg-van der Keur, C, Kruisselbrink, AB, van Bezooijen, RL, Beekhuizen, W, Willemze, R, Kanhai, HH, Fibbe, WE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pavia Haematologica 01-08-2003
• Subjects: Abortion, Legal; Adipocytes - chemistry; Adipocytes - classification; Adipocytes - cytology; Adipocytes - metabolism; Antigens, CD34 - analysis; Antigens, CD34 - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Marrow Cells - cytology; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Female; Fetus - cytology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Granulocytes - chemistry; Granulocytes - cytology; Granulocytes - metabolism; Humans; Immunophenotyping - methods; Liver - cytology; Liver - embryology; Lung - cytology; Lung - embryology; Lymphocytes - chemistry; Lymphocytes - cytology; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Mesoderm - classification; Mesoderm - cytology; Monocytes - chemistry; Monocytes - cytology; Monocytes - metabolism; Multipotent Stem Cells - classification; Multipotent Stem Cells - cytology; Osteocytes - chemistry; Osteocytes - classification; Osteocytes - cytology; Osteocytes - metabolism; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - embryology; Vertebrates: blood, hematopoietic organs, reticuloendothelial system; Human; Spleen; fetal tissues; limting dilution assay; Flow cytometry; Hematology; Immunophenotype; Stem cell; Liver; Lung; Mesenchyma; Potential; mesenchymal stem cells; Bone marrow; Fetus; multilineage differentiation potential; Differentiation
• ISSN: 0390-6078; 1592-8721

Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We previously found that human fetal lung is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Here we characterize and analyze the frequency and function of MSC in other second-trimester fetal tissues. DESIGN AND METHODS: Single cell suspensions of fetal bone marrow (BM), liver, lung, and spleen were made and analyzed by flow cytometry for the expression of CD90, CD105, CD166, SH3, SH4, HLA-ABC, HLA-DR, CD34 and CD45. We assessed the frequency of MSC by limiting dilution assay. RESULTS: The frequency of MSC in BM was significantly higher than in liver, lung, and spleen (p