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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Isolation and Characterization of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Human Umbilical Cord and Fetal Placenta
Published on: April 3, 2017
Characterization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human fetal lung: potential differentiation of germ cells
Jinlian Hua1, Haisheng Yu, Wuzi Dong
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest, A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China. jinlianhua@nwsuaf.edu.cn
Abstract:
Pluripotent mesenchymal stem-like cell lines were established from lungs of 3-4 months old aborted fetus. The cells present the high ex vivo expansion potential of MSC, a typical fibroblast-like morphology and proliferate up to 15 passages without displaying clear changes in morphology. Immunological localization and flow cytometry analyses showed that these cells are positive for OCT4, c-Kit, CD11, CD29, CD44, telomerase, CD106, CD105, CD166, and SSEA1, weakly expression or negative for SSEA1, SSEA3, SSEA4, CD34, CD105 and CD106. These cells can give rise to the adipogenic as evidenced by accumulation of lipid-rich vacuoles within cells identified by Oil-red O when they were induced with 0.5 mM isobutylmethylxanthine, 200 microM indomethacin, 10(-6)M dexamethasone, and 10 microg/ml of insulin in high-glucose DMEM. Osteogenic lineage cells were generated in 0.1 microM dexamethasone, 50 microg/ml ascorbic acid, 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate, which are shaped as the osteoblastic morphology, expression of alkaline phosphatase (AP), and the formation of a mineralized extracellular matrix identified by Alizarin Red staining. Neural cells are observed when the cultures were induced with 2-mercapometal, which are positive for nestin, NF-100, MBP and GFAP. Additionally, embryoid bodies (EBs) and sperm like cells are obtained in vitro differentiation of these lung MSCs induced with 10(-5)M retinoic acid (RA). These results demonstrated that these MSCs are pluripotent and may provide an in vitro model to study germ-cell formation and also as a potential source of sperms for male infertility.
Insights
Lung mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from fetal tissue exhibit pluripotency. These pluripotent MSCs can differentiate into various cell types, offering potential for regenerative medicine and germ cell research.
Area of Science:
- Stem Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells with significant therapeutic potential.
- Establishing pluripotent stem cell lines with high expansion capacity is crucial for research and clinical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and characterize pluripotent mesenchymal stem-like cell lines from fetal lung tissue.
- To investigate the differentiation potential of these cells into adipogenic, osteogenic, neural, and germ lineages.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and culture of mesenchymal stem-like cells from fetal lung tissue.
- Flow cytometry and immunological localization for cell surface marker analysis (OCT4, c-Kit, CD11, CD29, CD44, telomerase, CD106, CD105, CD166, SSEA1).
- In vitro induction of differentiation into adipogenic, osteogenic, neural, and germ cell lineages using specific inductive media and reagents.
Main Results:
- Established cell lines exhibited high ex vivo expansion potential and fibroblast-like morphology up to 15 passages.
- Cells expressed pluripotency markers (OCT4, telomerase) and MSC markers (CD11, CD29, CD44, CD106, CD166).
- Demonstrated multipotency by differentiating into adipocytes (Oil-red O), osteoblasts (Alizarin Red), neural cells (nestin, GFAP), and germ-like cells (sperm-like cells, embryoid bodies) upon induction.
Conclusions:
- Fetal lung-derived mesenchymal stem-like cells are pluripotent and possess multipotent differentiation capabilities.
- These cells represent a valuable in vitro model for studying germ cell formation and male infertility.
- The established cell lines offer a potential source for regenerative medicine applications.
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