First-trimester human decidua contains a population of mesenchymal stem cells
Received 18 February 2008; received in revised form 2 September 2008; accepted 19 September 2008. published online 11 November 2008.
Objective
To determine whether first-trimester human decidua contains multipotent stromal cells capable of differentiating into other cell lines.
Design
In vitro–cultured decidual stromal cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and induced to differentiate into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages, endothelial cells, and PRL-secreting mature decidual cells.
Setting
Research laboratory.
Patient(s)
Eight decidua samples were collected from healthy women aged 26–32 years undergoing elective vaginal surgical terminations of early pregnancy (8–10 gestational weeks).
Intervention(s)
Cell suspensions from human decidual stromal cells were cultured at clonogenic concentrations and in bulk under differentiation conditions and analyzed for specific markers.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Multipotent differentiation potential of decidual stromal cells.
Result(s)
Decidual stromal cells express the surface markers specific to cells of mesenchymal origin as analyzed by flow cytometry. A pool of the decidual stromal cells can be induced to differentiate into mature PRL-secreting decidual cells and into osteogenic, adipogenic, and endothelial cells expressing the corresponding specific markers.
Conclusion(s)
It is demonstrated for the first time that first-trimester human decidua contains multipotent mesenchymal stem cells that can be grown in vitro for prolonged periods, have clonogenic properties, can differentiate into different cell lineages, and express surface markers specific to mesenchymal stem cells.
Reprint requests: Stanimir Kyurkchiev, M.D., D.Sc., Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 73 Tzarigradsko shosse, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria (FAX: 359-2-720925).
R.D. has nothing to disclose. D.K. has nothing to disclose. T.T. has nothing to disclose. M.Y. has nothing to disclose. M.S. has nothing to disclose. A.S. has nothing to disclose. S.K. has nothing to disclose.
Supported in part by grant nos. G-4-01/2005 and L-1517/2005 from the National Science Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science, Sofia, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT