High Proliferative Placenta-Derived Multipotent Cells Express Cytokeratin 7 at Low Level

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Stem Cell Research
• Reproductive Biology

Background:

• Placenta-derived multipotent cells (PDMCs) are a promising source for regenerative medicine.
• Understanding PDMC heterogeneity and differentiation potential is crucial for their therapeutic application.
• CK7 expression is a key marker for identifying specific PDMC subpopulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the immunophenotypes and gene expression profiles of highly proliferative PDMC populations.
• To analyze PDMC characteristics at different culture stages.
• To determine the role of CK7 expression in PDMC proliferation and differentiation.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and culture of single PDMCs to form colonies.
• Immunophenotyping using CK7 and vimentin (Vim) markers.
• Analysis of gene expression for transcription factors (CDX2, EOMES, ERG), mesodermal markers (SPP1, COL2A1, PPARG2), stem cell markers (IFTM3, POU5F1, VASA), and trophoblast markers (CGB, ERVW-1, GCM1, GATA3).

Main Results:

• Highly proliferative PDMC clones exhibited weak CK7 expression (CK7^low).
• CK7 expression was inducible in vitro, with CK7⁺Vim⁺ cells identified as proliferative.
• CK7^low-clones expressed genes associated with mesenchymal origin, stem cell progenitors, and trophoblast lineage.

Conclusions:

• PDMCs acquire a distinct immunophenotype signature under culture conditions.
• CK7^low-PDMCs represent a highly proliferative progenitor population with multipotent differentiation capacity.
• These findings highlight the plasticity of PDMCs and their potential for various therapeutic applications.