J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2004 Oct;39(6):607-613.

Chondrogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood

• Jung MH
• Yang SE
• Jin HJ
• Lee MK
• Song HS
• Yang JY
• Yang YS
• Ha CW

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to demonstrate the existence of circulating mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in the human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) and to evaluate the chondrogenic differentiation potential of hUCB-derived MSC in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty hUCB harvests were cultured in media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The adherent fibroblast-like cells were characterized by immunophenotyping and induced to differentiate into chondrocytes in the pellet culture with and without BMP-6. This study performed RTPCR of the chondrogenic markers, Safranin-O stain and type II collagen immunohistochemical stain. RESULTS: The mononuclear cells isolated from hUCB formed adherent colonies with an attached wellspread fibroblast-like morphology. The cells positively expressed the MSC-related antigens, but did not express the hematopoietic, HLA-DR, endothelial, or osteoclast antigens and could be induced to differentiate into chondrocytes under proper stimulation. BMP-6 increased the size of the pellet and the mRNA levels for aggrecan, type II collagen and type IX collagen and enhanced the levels of proteoglycan synthesis during chondrogenic differentiation. CONCLUSION: The homogenous fibroblast-like cells developed in cultures from hUCB with chondrogenic differentiation potential were considered to be MSC. Furthermore, it was found that BMP-6 enhanced chondrogenic differentiation of the hUCB-derived MSC in the pellet culture.

Keyword

Human umbilical cord blood; Mesenchymal stem cells; Chondrogenic differentiation; BMP-6

MeSH Terms

Aggrecans
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6
Chondrocytes
Collagen Type II
Collagen Type IX
Fetal Blood*
HLA-DR Antigens
Humans*
Immunophenotyping
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells*
Osteoclasts
Proteoglycans
RNA, Messenger
Umbilical Cord*
Aggrecans
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6
Collagen Type II
Collagen Type IX
HLA-DR Antigens
Proteoglycans
RNA, Messenger