Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cells Developed in Cultures from Human Umbilical Cord Blood / 대한정형외과연구학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the existence in human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) of circulating mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells(MSPC), the adherent cells developed in cultures from hUCB were characterized and induced to differentiate into osteoblasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty hUCB harvests were cultured in the media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Homogeneously adherent fibroblast-like cells obtained during successive subcultivation were characterized by immunophenotyping analysis and induced to differentiate into osteoblasts. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of osteogenic markers, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) stain, and von Kossa stain were performed. RESULTS: The adherent fibroblast-like cells developed in cultures from hUCB positively expressed the MSPCrelated antigens, but, did not express the hematopoietic, HLA-DR, osteoclast, or endothelial antigens. These cells were well proliferated during successive subcultivation. Under osteogenic condition, these cells showed increased levels of osteogenic mRNAs and strong positivity in ALP and von Kossa stains at 4th week. CONCLUSION: The homogeneous fibroblast-like cells developed in cultures from hUCB were considered to be MSPC. Morphological and immunophenotypical characteristics of these cells were very similar to those of bone marrow-derived MSPC, and well differentiated into osteoblasts.