Evaluation of the Impact of Pregnancy-Associated Factors on the Quality of Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Stem Cells Using SOX2 Gene Expression as a Marker

Abstract

SOX2 is a recognized pluripotent transcription factor involved in stem cell homeostasis, self-renewal and reprogramming. It belongs to, one of the SRY-related HMG-box (SOX) family of transcription factors, taking part in the regulation of embryonic development and determination of cell fate. Among other functions, SOX2 promotes proliferation, survival, invasion, metastasis, cancer stemness, and drug resistance. SOX2 interacts with other transcription factors in multiple signaling pathways to control growth and survival. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a parturient’s age, umbilical cord blood pH and length of pregnancy on the quality of stem cells derived from Wharton’s jelly (WJSC) by looking at birth weight and using SOX2 gene expression as a marker. Using qPCR the authors, evaluated the expression of SOX2 in WJSC acquired from the umbilical cords of 30 women right after the delivery. The results showed a significant correlation between the birth weight and the expression of SOX2 in WJSC in relation to maternal age, umbilical cord blood pH, and the length of pregnancy. The authors observed that the younger the woman and the lower the umbilical cord blood pH, the earlier the delivery occurs, the lower the birth weight and the higher SOX2 gene expression in WJSC. In research studies and clinical applications of regenerative medicine utilizing mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton’s Jelly of the umbilical cord, assessment of maternal and embryonic factors influencing the quality of cells is critical.

Maternal and Neonatal Factors' Effects on Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cell Yield

“…A known pluripotent transcription factor, SOX2 is implicated in reprogramming, self-renewal, and maintaining the homeostasis of stem cells. The SOX2 gene is statistically considerably more expressed in WJSC in women under the age of 34 than it is in women over 34, according to [24]. Furthermore, a statistically signi cant moderate negative correlation is demonstrated between the SOX2 gene expression and the maternal age.…”

“…According to [30], the yield of MSCs was not signi cantly affected by the mother's age or gestational age, but a greater birth weight was associated with a more yield, which is consistent with our ndings. On the other hand, [24] found that lower birth weight correlates to higher SOX2 gene expression in WJ-SCs. SOX2 is a known pluripotent transcription factor that contributes to cell reprogramming and selfrenewal.…”

VEGF Expression in Umbilical Cord MSC Depends on the Patient’s Health, the Week of Pregnancy in Which the Delivery Took Place, and the Body Weight of the Newborn – Preliminary Report

“…DURA Clone MSC tubes contain lyophilisate of a panel of 9 monoclonal antibodies (CD90-FITC, CD73-PE, CD34-ECD, CD146-PC5.5, CD105-PC7, CD45-APC-AF750, CD31-Pacific Blue, CD14-Krome Orange, CD19-Krome Orange) dedicated to the determination of characteristic MSC antigens. 10 , 26 , 27 Cell proliferation was assessed using the anti Ki67-PE eBioscience antibody (Invitrogen by Life Technologies, USA, Carlsbad, CA) and viability of the cultured cells using propidium iodide and annexin V. Staining with annexin-V, which can bind to phosphatidylserine on the surface of apoptotic cells, was used as a marker of apoptosis. Annexin V was detected by flow cytometry in FITC and PI channels.…”

The Molecular Regulatory Mechanism in Multipotency and Differentiation of Wharton’s Jelly Stem Cells

“…OCT4 can bind to the SOX2 promoter to initiate SOX2 transcription. The expression level of SOX2 in WJ-MSCs is much higher than that of OCT4 [ 70 ], and SOX2 is considered to be an important factor regulating the pluripotency and cell cycle of WJ-MSCs [ 71 ]. The transcription of SOX2 is regulated by a variety of transcription factors.…”