Preterm birth is a major health concern that affects 10% of all worldwide deliveries. Many preterm infants are discharged from the hospital with morbidities that lead to an increased risk for neurodevelopmental impairment, recurrent hospitalizations, and life-long conditions. Unfortunately, the treatment of these conditions is palliative rather than curative, which calls for novel and innovative strategies. Progress in regenerative medicine has offered therapeutic options for many of these conditions. Specifically, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and cord blood (UCB) cells have shown promise in treating adult-onset diseases. Unlike bone-marrow and embryonic derived stem cells, umbilical cord-derived cells are easily and humanely obtained, have low immunogenicity, and offer the potential of autologous therapy. While there are several studies to uphold the efficacy of umbilical cord MSCs in adult therapies, there remains an unmet need for the investigation of its use in treating neonates. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of current information on the potential therapeutic benefits and clinical applicability of umbilical cord MSCs and UCB cells. Promising preclinical studies have now led to a research movement that is focusing on cell-based therapies for preterm infants.
OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: To compare functional differences in WJ-MSCs-derived from term Versus preterm infants. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: WJ-MSCs were enzymatically digested from umbilical cord tissue from Term (gestational age ≥37 wk, n=4) and Preterm (gestational age ≤32 wk, n=5) neonates. Cells were characterized by (1) surface antigen markers using flow cytometry, (2) ability to differentiate into adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic lineages following in vitro stimulation, (3) colony forming unit efficiency, (4) proliferation rates, and (5) cell motility assay. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: WJ-MSCs were successfully isolated from both Preterm and Term groups. Cells adhered to plastic and displayed characteristic spindle-shaped morphology when cultured under standard conditions. WJ-MSCs from both groups expressed surface antigen markers CD73, CD90, and CD146 (≥90%) and did not express hematopoietic markers HLA-DR, CD79, or CD117 (<5%). Preterm and Term cells were capable of differentiating into osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages. There were no significant differences between the groups when evaluated by colony forming efficiency, proliferation rates, or cell motility. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: These preliminary findings suggest that WJ-MSCs derived from full-term or preterm neonates have similar functional characteristics. Future studies will focus on the regenerative potential of WJ-MSCs from preterm and term infants following changes in the microenvironment (eg, oxygen tension, inflammatory stimulation).
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