Numerous papers have reported that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, adipose tissue and others. Nonetheless it is an open question whether MSCs isolated from different sources represent a single cell lineage or if cells residing in different organs are separate members of a family of MSCs. Subendothelial tissue of the umbilical cord vein has been shown to be a promising source of MSCs. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize cells derived from the subendothelial layer of umbilical cord veins as regards their clonogenicity and differentiation potential. The results from these experiments show that cells isolated from the umbilical cord vein displayed fibroblast-like morphology and grew into colonies. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry revealed that the isolated cells were negative for the hematopoietic line markers HLA-DR and CD34 but were positive for CD29, CD90 and CD73. The isolated cells were also positive for survivin, Bcl-2, vimentin and endoglin, as confirmed by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. These cells can be induced to differentiate into osteogenic and adipogenic cells, but a new finding is that these cells can be induced to differentiate into endothelial cells expressing CD31, vWF and KDR-2, and also form vessel-like structures in Matrigel. The differentiated cells stopped expressing survivin, thus showing a diminished proliferative potential. It can be assumed that the subendothelial layer of the umbilical cord vein contains a population of cells with the overall characteristics of MSCs, with the additional capability to transform into endothelial cells.

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The aim of the article is to analyze the economic potential of agro-industrial complex of the provincial region for the case of the Mari El Republic of Russia. A resource approach with the inclusion of a resultant component was used in the study of economic potential in the framework of system analysis. The strengths of the economic potential of the agro-industrial complex of the Mari El Republic are the low cost of labor, the availability of specialized educational institutions and personnel, high productivity and growth of livestock production. The positive dynamics of livestock production was achieved at the expense of state support of the agriculture modernization. The weaknesses of economic potential of the regional agro-industrial complex are the technological backwardness of local agricultural producers, a large share of non-cultivated land, low crop yields, and low level of land chemization. The outflow of population from rural areas and the deficit of the regional budget restrict the development of the sector. The increase in agricultural production is mainly due to the livestock industry. The production of cattle meat and milk are promising to growth paths.

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