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Stem cell reviews and reports2018; 14(4); 574-584; doi: 10.1007/s12015-018-9803-3

Wharton’s Jelly Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Comparing Human and Horse.

Abstract: Wharton's jelly (WJ) is an important source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) both in human and other animals. The aim of this study was to compare human and equine WJMSCs. Human and equine WJMSCs were isolated and cultured using the same protocols and culture media. Cells were characterized by analysing morphology, growth rate, migration and adhesion capability, immunophenotype, differentiation potential and ultrastructure. Results showed that human and equine WJMSCs have similar ultrastructural details connected with intense synthetic and metabolic activity, but differ in growth, migration, adhesion capability and differentiation potential. In fact, at the scratch assay and transwell migration assay, the migration ability of human WJMSCs was higher (P < 0.05) than that of equine cells, while the volume of spheroids obtained after 48 h of culture in hanging drop was larger than the volume of equine ones (P < 0.05), demonstrating a lower cell adhesion ability. This can also revealed in the lower doubling time of equine cells (3.5 ± 2.4 days) as compared to human (6.5 ± 4.3 days) (P < 0.05), and subsequently in the higher number of cell doubling after 44 days of culture observed for the equine (20.3 ± 1.7) as compared to human cells (8.7 ± 2.4) (P < 0.05), and to the higher (P < 0.05) ability to form fibroblast colonies at P3. Even if in both species tri-lineage differentiation was achieved, equine cells showed an higher chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation ability (P < 0.05). Our findings indicate that, although the ultrastructure demonstrated a staminal phenotype in human and equine WJMSCs, they showed different properties reflecting the different sources of MSCs.
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Publication Date: 2018-03-07 PubMed ID: 29508214DOI: 10.1007/s12015-018-9803-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article primarily studies and compares the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from Wharton’s Jelly from humans and horses. The findings indicated that while both types of cells share similar qualities, they differ significantly in terms of growth, migration, adhesion capability, and differentiation potential.

Study Design

  • The researchers gathered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from Wharton’s Jelly (WJ) of both horses and humans.
  • The cells from both sources were isolated and cultivated using identical protocols and culture mediums.
  • The researchers then compared and analyzed their morphology, growth rate, ability to migrate and adhere, immunophenotype, potential to differentiate, and ultrastructure.

Results

  • The study results showed that the MSCs from both species looked similar at an ultrastructural level and were involved in high metabolic and synthetic activities.
  • However, the cells differed in their growth rate, migration capability, capacity to adhere, and potential to differentiate.
  • The migration potential of human MSCs was significantly higher than that of the equine MSCs.
  • Human spheroids (cell clusters) after 48 hours of hanging drop culture were larger, indicating a lower adhesion capacity in equine cells.
  • Equine cells presented a faster doubling time than human cells, indicating a higher growth rate, and had a larger number of cell doublings after 44 days of culture.
  • Equine MSCs also performed better at forming fibroblast colonies at Passage 3 (P3) in the absence of serum.
  • Although tri-lineage differentiation (where a stem cell differentiates into three distinct cell types) was achieved in both human and horse cells, the horse’s cells showed higher capacity for chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation.

Conclusion

  • The results suggest that although human and equine MSCs from Wharton’s Jelly share certain qualities, they display different characteristics due to their different origins.
  • This has potential implications in the fields of cell biology and regenerative medicine where understanding the exact nature and abilities of stem cells is important.

Cite This Article

APA
Merlo B, Teti G, Mazzotti E, Ingrà L, Salvatore V, Buzzi M, Cerqueni G, Dicarlo M, Lanci A, Castagnetti C, Iacono E. (2018). Wharton’s Jelly Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Comparing Human and Horse. Stem Cell Rev Rep, 14(4), 574-584. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12015-018-9803-3

Publication

Stem cell reviews and reports
ISSN: 2629-3277
NlmUniqueID: 101752767
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 4
Pages: 574-584

Researcher Affiliations

Merlo, Barbara
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy. barbara.merlo@unibo.it.
Teti, Gabriella
  • Department for Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 48, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy.
Mazzotti, Eleonora
  • Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, via R. Balzarini 1, 64100, Teramo, TE, Italy.
Ingrà, Laura
  • Department for Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 48, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy.
Salvatore, Viviana
  • An2H Discovery Limited, National Institute for Cellular Bioetchnology (NICB), Dublin City University Campus, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Buzzi, Marina
  • Banca dei Tessuti, del Sangue cordonale e Biobanca Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
Cerqueni, Giorgia
  • Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Dicarlo, Manuela
  • Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Lanci, Aliai
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.
Castagnetti, Carolina
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.
Iacono, Eleonora
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chondrogenesis
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Osteogenesis
  • Species Specificity
  • Wharton Jelly / cytology

Grant Funding

  • RFO (Ricerca Fondamentale Orientata) / Universitu00e0 di Bologna

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
  1. Carano F, Teti G, Ruggeri A, Chiarini F, Giorgetti A, Mazzotti MC, Fais P, Falconi M. Assessment of the structural and functional characteristics of human mesenchymal stem cells associated with a prolonged exposure of morphine. Sci Rep 2021 Sep 28;11(1):19248.
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