Isolation, Characterization, and Transduction of Endometrial Decidual Tissue Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells from Menstrual Blood

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) reveal progenitor cells-like features including proliferation and differentiation capacities. One of the most historically recognized sources of MSC has been the bone marrow, while other sources recently include adipose tissue, teeth, bone, muscle, placenta, liver, pancreas, umbilical cord, and cord blood. Frequently, progenitor isolation requires traumatic procedures that are poorly feasible and associated with patient discomfort. In the attempt to identify a more approachable MSC source, we focused on endometrial decidual tissue (EDT) found within menstrual blood. Based also on recent literature findings, we hypothesized that EDT may contain heterogeneous populations including some having MSC-like features. Thus, we here sought to isolate EDT-MSC processing menstrual samples from multiple donors. Cytofluorimetric analyses revealed that resulting adherent cells were expressing mesenchymal surface markers, including CD56, CD73, CD90, CD105 and CD146, and pluripotency markers such as SSEA-4. Moreover, EDT-MSC showed a robust clonogenic potential and could be largely expanded in vitro as fibroblastoid elements. In addition, differentiation assays drove these cells towards osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Finally, for the first time, we were able to gene modify these progenitors by a retroviral vector carrying the green fluorescent protein. From these data, we suggest that EDT-MSC could represent a new promising tool having potential within cell and gene therapy applications.

Does the maternal age affect the mesenchymal stem cell markers and gene expression in the human placenta? What is the evidence?

“…These findings are in agreement with some previous studies (Da Sacco et al, 2010;Semenov et al, 2010;Abumaree et al, 2013;Rossignoli et al, 2013).…”

Cells derived from porcine aorta tunica media show mesenchymal stromal-like cell properties in in vitro culture

“…Conversely, the antigen profiles were negative (Ͻ2%) for the hematopoietic markers CD34 (0.7 Ϯ 0.1% of positive cells) and CD45 (1.5 Ϯ 0.4% of positive cells), as required for MSCs (20). In addition, the cells expressed CD56 (95.9 Ϯ 3.5% of positive cells), which is considered a natural killer and neuronal and muscle marker but has also been described as a marker of subsets of MSCs derived from human bone marrow (4,8) and menstrual blood (51).…”

Comparative analysis of biological characteristics of adult mesenchymal stem cells with different tissue origins

“…Menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) are novel stem cells with the basic characteristics of MSCs, but expressing different molecular markers. Meng et al found that MenSCs expressed OCT-4, but not NANOG or SSEA-4 [5][6][7] , while Rossignoli et al [8] reported that 19.4% of MenSCs were SSEA-4-positive by flow cytometry. Zemel'ko et al [9] showed high expression of SSEA-4 by immunofluorescence.…”