Stem Cells International (Jan 2017)

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Amniotic Fluid-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Obtained from Caesarean Sections

  • Lucas-Sebastian Spitzhorn,
  • Md Shaifur Rahman,
  • Laura Schwindt,
  • Huyen-Tran Ho,
  • Wasco Wruck,
  • Martina Bohndorf,
  • Silke Wehrmeyer,
  • Audrey Ncube,
  • Ines Beyer,
  • Carsten Hagenbeck,
  • Percy Balan,
  • Tanja Fehm,
  • James Adjaye

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/5932706
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2017

Abstract

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Human amniotic fluid cells are immune-privileged with low immunogenicity and anti-inflammatory properties. They are able to self-renew, are highly proliferative, and have a broad differentiation potential, making them amenable for cell-based therapies. Amniotic fluid (AF) is routinely obtained via amniocentesis and contains heterogeneous populations of foetal-derived progenitor cells including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this study, we isolated human MSCs from AF (AF-MSCs) obtained during Caesarean sections (C-sections) and characterized them. These AF-MSCs showed typical MSC characteristics such as morphology, in vitro differentiation potential, surface marker expression, and secreted factors. Besides vimentin and the stem cell marker CD133, subpopulations of AF-MSCs expressed pluripotency-associated markers such as SSEA4, c-Kit, TRA-1-60, and TRA-1-81. The secretome and related gene ontology (GO) terms underline their immune modulatory properties. Furthermore, transcriptome analyses revealed similarities with native foetal bone marrow-derived MSCs. Significant KEGG pathways as well as GO terms are mostly related to immune function, embryonic skeletal system, and TGFβ-signalling. An AF-MSC-enriched gene set included putative AF-MSC markers PSG5, EMX-2, and EVR-3. In essence, C-section-derived AF-MSCs can be routinely obtained and are amenable for personalized cell therapies and disease modelling.