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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Isolation and Characterization of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Human Umbilical Cord and Fetal Placenta
Published on: April 3, 2017
Characterization of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells with lymphoid tissue organizer cell potential in tonsils from
Alejandro Prados1,2, Raquel Muñoz-Fernández1,2, Pablo Fernandez-Rubio1,2
1Instituto de Biopatología y Medicina Regenerativa, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
Insights
Tonsil stromal cells (TSCs) in children function as mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and differentiate into lymphoid tissue organizer (LTo)-like cells. These findings suggest LTo-like cells may exist in human adults.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Lymphoid tissue organizer (LTo) cells are embryonic precursors to secondary lymphoid organ stromal cells.
- The presence of LTo cells in adult humans remains uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether tonsil stromal cells (TSCs) from children exhibit characteristics of LTo cells.
- To determine if TSCs meet the criteria for human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs).
Main Methods:
- Isolation and culture of 15 TSC lines from pediatric tonsil tissue.
- Analysis of cell surface antigen phenotype using flow cytometry and RT-PCR.
- Assessment of differentiation capacity into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes.
- Evaluation of chemokine, cytokine, and adhesion molecule expression.
Main Results:
- TSC lines met International Society for Cellular Therapy criteria for MSCs.
- TSCs expressed LTo cell-associated markers (CCL19, CCL21, CXCL13, TRANCE, IL-7, ICAM-1, MadCAM-1, VCAM-1).
- Lymphotoxin (LT)α1β2 and TNF upregulated LTo cell-associated markers and functions in TSCs.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric TSCs are MSCs capable of differentiating into LTo-like cells.
- Cytokine stimulation (LTα1β2, TNF) promotes LTo-like cell differentiation in TSCs.
- This suggests a potential role for LTo-like cells in adult secondary lymphoid tissues.
Abstract:
Lymphoid tissue organizer (LTo) cells, identified in mouse and human embryos, are thought to be precursors of stromal cells in secondary lymphoid organs. Whether LTo cells are present in human adults, however remains unknown. We obtained 15 stromal cell lines from tonsils from children who underwent tonsillectomy, and studied the antigen phenotype of these tonsil stromal cell (TSC) lines by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. Cell lines met the minimal criteria proposed by the International Society for Cellular Therapy to define human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs): plastic-adherent capacity; expression of CD73, CD90 and CD105, lack of CD45, CD19 and HLA-DR; and capacity to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts and chondrocytes. Furthermore, our TSC lines exhibited an antigen phenotype and functional characteristics very similar to those seen in murine embryo LTo cells: they expressed chemokines CCL19, CCL21 and CXCL13, cytokines TRANCE and IL-7, and adhesion molecules ICAM-1, mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule (MadCAM)-1 and VCAM-1. The expression of LTo cell-associated markers and functions were upregulated by lymphotoxin (LT)α1β2 and TNF, two cytokines involved in the development and maturation of secondary lymphoid tissues. Our results show that TSCs are tonsil MSCs that differentiate into LTo-like cells in response to the effects of these cytokines.
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