Isolation and Assessment of Biological Properties and Differentiation Potential of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Despite numerous studies on the biological properties and differentiability of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, these studies are still ongoing in order to achieve new findings. Therefore, the present study investigates the biological properties of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and their ability to differentiate into osteocyte and adipocyte.

In this experimental laboratory study, 30 whole placenta specimens were prepared from the mothers under cesarean section and kept under standardized conditions. The mesenchymal cells were isolated by enzymatic method and their morphological characteristics were examined by microscopy and absorption spectroscopy and their biological properties, in particular expression of CD markers, were determined by flow cytometry. Finally, mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in specific media in order to differentiate into osteocyte and adipocyte. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Morphological and physical examinations by microscope and absorption spectroscopy as well as presenting of CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105 markers and lacking of CD34 and CD45 markers demonstrated the mesenchymal entity of stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells successfully differentiated into osteocyte and adipocyte.

Human cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into adult fat and bone cells. In this respect, the use of cord-derived mesenchymal cells could be of significant interest in cell therapy.