Evaluation of biological characteristics and differentiation potential of human placenta-derived Mesenchymal stem cells in COVID-19 positive versus unaffected patients

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: There is a lot of missing knowledge on the impact of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV 2 on stem cells. Human placenta tissue is rich in stem cells, which can be isolated, cultured and differentiated. The present study investigated the capability of human placenta-derived cells to differentiate into osteocytes and adipocytes in two subgroups of Patients who have had positive COVID-19 PCR test result during their pregnancies versus the control group, the normal healthy pregnant women. Material & Methods: Firstly, placenta tissues were obtained from 30 positive COVID-19 women undergoing cesarean section as the experiment group and 30 normal healthy women as the control group, all with the age range from 20 to 40 years old. Isolation of placenta-derived cells was done by type IV collagenase digestion of 60 freshly obtained human placentas (30 placentas in each group) and then cultured. Flow cytometry was utilized for the analysis of cell surface markers of adherent cells. β-glycerol phosphate, vitamin C, and dexamethasone were used for the Osteocytic differentiation and the process has been confirmed by Alizarin red staining. Induction of differentiation in adipocytes was applied with the use of dexamethasone and insulin and the process has been confirmed by oil red O staining. Results: Placenta-derived adherent cells were positive for high levels of CD44, CD105, CD73, CD90 and CD29;in fact their expression level were > 99percentage, while the expression level of CD34, CD45, CD19, and CD14 was <7%, identical pattern to the human mesenchymal stem cells. The cells had the potential to differentiate into osteocytes and adipocytes. Conclusion: Human placenta tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells with the potential to differentiate into adipocytes and osteocytes, which, based on our study, have not been influenced by COVID-19 virus. Accordingly, the use of human placenta-derived mesenchymal cells may be of interest in basic research and clinical use due to providing an alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells. © 2021 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.