Multipotent fetal stem cells in reproductive biology research

Abstract

Due to the limited accessibility of the in vivo situation, the scarcity of the human tissue, legal constraints, and ethical considerations, the underlying molecular mechanisms of disorders, such as preeclampsia, the pathological consequences of fetomaternal microchimerism, or infertility, are still not fully understood. And although substantial progress has already been made, the therapeutic strategies for reproductive system diseases are still facing limitations. In the recent years, it became more and more evident that stem cells are powerful tools for basic research in human reproduction and stem cell-based approaches moved into the center of endeavors to establish new clinical concepts. Multipotent fetal stem cells derived from the amniotic fluid, amniotic membrane, chorion leave, Wharton´s jelly, or placenta came to the fore because they are easy to acquire, are not associated with ethical concerns or covered by strict legal restrictions, and can be banked for autologous utilization later in life. Compared to adult stem cells, they exhibit a significantly higher differentiation potential and are much easier to propagate in vitro. Compared to pluripotent stem cells, they harbor less mutations, are not tumorigenic, and exhibit low immunogenicity. Studies on multipotent fetal stem cells can be invaluable to gain knowledge on the development of dysfunctional fetal cell types, to characterize the fetal stem cells migrating into the body of a pregnant woman in the context of fetomaternal microchimerism, and to obtain a more comprehensive picture of germ cell development in the course of in vitro differentiation experiments. The in vivo transplantation of fetal stem cells or their paracrine factors can mediate therapeutic effects in preeclampsia and can restore reproductive organ functions. Together with the use of fetal stem cell-derived gametes, such strategies could once help individuals, who do not develop functional gametes, to conceive genetically related children. Although there is still a long way to go, these developments regarding the usage of multipotent fetal stem cells in the clinic should continuously be accompanied by a wide and detailed ethical discussion.

Functional variation among mesenchymal stem cells derived from different tissue sources

“…As an integral part of the placenta, the chorionic tightly adheres tightly to the uterine wall and is connected to the maternal bloodstream via capillaries in chorionic villi. Studies have indicated the presence of proliferative fetal and maternal MSCs in the terminal chorionic villi of the full-term human placenta ( Mathews et al, 2015 ; Rosner et al, 2023 ). Therefore, we speculate that CMMSCs may interact directly with the uterus, potentially resulting in a greater abundance of subpopulations associated with reproductive system development.…”

Investigating the global research landscape, barriers, and facilitators of scientific productivity in fetal membrane research

“…This approach offers the prospect of harnessing these cells for therapeutic purposes in an individual's future, contributing to personalized medicine and long-term health management. [60,61] The articles published in this area are not considered for this review.…”

The Role of Stem Cells in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

“…Adipose tissue is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs), which can be easily obtained via subcutaneous lipoaspiration [33]. Mesenchymal fetal stem cells can also be obtained from placenta, umbilical cord (UC-MSCs), as well as amniotic fluid and amniotic membrane [34]. Dental pulp is a source of MSCs with neurotropic properties, as they originate from the neural crest [35].…”