Viability and neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from the umbilical cord following perinatal asphyxia

Abstract

Objective: Hypoxia-ischemia is the leading cause of neurological handicaps in newborns worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) collected from fresh cord blood of asphyxiated newborns have the potential to regenerate damaged neural tissues. The aim of this study was to examine the capacity for MSCs to differentiate into neural tissue that could subsequently be used for autologous transplantation.Study Design: We collected cord blood samples from full-term newborns with perinatal hypoxemia (n ¼ 27), healthy newborns (n ¼ 14) and non-hypoxic premature neonates (n ¼ 14). Mononuclear cells were separated, counted, and then analyzed by flow cytometry to assess various stem cell populations. MSCs were isolated by plastic adherence and characterized by morphology. Cells underwent immunophenotyping and trilineage differentiation potential. They were then cultured in conditions favoring neural differentiation. Neural lineage commitment was detected using immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, tubulin III and oligodendrocyte marker O4 antibodies.Result: Mononuclear cell count and viability did not differ among the three groups of infants. Neural differentiation was best demonstrated in the cells derived from hypoxia-ischemia term neonates, of which 69% had complete and 31% had partial neural differentiation. Cells derived from preterm neonates had the least amount of neural differentiation, whereas partial differentiation was observed in only 12%.Conclusion: These findings support the potential utilization of umbilical cord stem cells as a source for autologous transplant in asphyxiated neonates.

Human Umbilical Cord Blood CD34-Positive Cells as Predictors of the Incidence and Short-Term Outcome of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Pilot Study

“…Aly et al34 found that neural differentiation was strongest in cells derived from HIE term neonates, of which 69% exhibited complete and 31% exhibited partial neural differentiation.…”

Intrathecal Autologous Bone Marrow Derived MSC Therapy in Cerebral Palsy: Safety and Short Term Efficacy

“…Aly et al (2011) demonstrated the transdifferentiation ability of cord bloodderived mesenchymal stem cells towards all three neurological cell types (14). These two findings pave the way for neuro-regenerative therapeutic intervention for management of cerebral palsy.…”

“…These two findings pave the way for neuro-regenerative therapeutic intervention for management of cerebral palsy. The finding of Aly et al (2011) introduce autologous stem cells as a convenient therapeutic option.…”

Cell-Based Therapies in Neonatal Stroke

“…The properties of hUCBCs may be altered by several factors, such as the gestational age and perinatal asphyxia [100,101]; For example, Aly et al reported that although UCB-MNC count does not differ between healthy-term newborns and term newborns with perinatal asphyxia, neuronal differentiation of hUCB-MSCs is more pronounced in the cells derived from newborns with asphyxia [102]. Apoptosis of neutrophils is impaired in cord blood compared with adult peripheral blood, and the apoptosis is reduced by hypoxia [103].…”