Testosterone stimulates proliferation and preserves stemness of human adult mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells.

Human adult stem and progenitor cells are promising cell types widely studied for their clinical benefits. A reduced number of stem cells present in the human body are associated with numerous dysfunctions. Since androgens have a profound effect on different cell types, we questioned whether testosterone (T), one of the main androgens, influence and are involved in the proliferation of stem cells and÷or affect their stemness potential.

Isolation method and xeno-free culture conditions influence multipotent differentiation capacity of human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Introduction: Human Wharton's jelly (WJ) has become a preferred source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) whose clinical applications are limited by the use of adequate xeno-free (XF), in vitro manipulation conditions. Therefore, the objective of our study was to characterize WJ-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs), isolated by different methods and cultured in a commercially available, MSC XF medium, not least of all by investigating their endothelial differentiation capacity.

Methods: WJ explants and enzymatically dissociated WJ cells were cultured in a defined, XF medium for MSCs.