Mesenchymal cells of the decidual tooth pulp: cytophenotype and initial evaluation of possibility of their use in bone tissue engineering.

Cultures of mesenchymal cells from human decidual tooth pulp were derived. The phenotype and capacity to osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of these cells are close to those of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Decidual tooth pulp mesenchymal cells populate biodegraded polylactide scaffolds and hence, can be used for the creation of tissue engineering transplants for bone defect repair.

Preparation of mixed keratinocyte and melanocyte cultures from biopsy specimens of pigmented skin sites of patients with vitiligo.

A method for preparation and expansion of mixed keratinocyte and melanocyte culture from human skin biopsy specimens was developed. The culture contains two melanocyte types: derivatives of hair follicle stem cells and epidermal basal layer stem cells. Fibroblasts were completely eliminated after culturing in selective medium.

Development and introduction of production standards for cell products of mesenchymal origin.

The results of the development and introduction of universal production standards for cell products of mesenchymal origin are presented: technology for obtaining and culturing of primary cell cultures from human postnatal organs and tissues, cell product quality and safety control procedures, methods for cell product storage and transportation, and the necessary files.

In vitro comparison of immunological properties of cultured human mesenchymal cells from various sources.

Cell-mediated cytotoxicity was studied in vitro during the interaction of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblast-like cells from newborn umbilical cord, and skin fibroblasts of an adult donor with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Independently on the origin, mesenchymal cells were not lysed with allogeneic natural killer cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes. Mixed cultures of mesenchymal cells had no cytotoxic effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and did not activate proliferation of T and B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and CD14+ lymphocytes.

Comparatine analysis of cytophenotypes of cells of mesenchymal lineage isolated from human tissues.

The expression of cytoplasmic and surface proteins in cultured human skin fibroblasts, human umbilical cord cells obtained after normal delivery on gestation week 38-40, and mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells was compared by the methods of immunocytochemistry and flow cytofluorometry. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells expressed a great variety of marker proteins typical of stem and progenitor cells and did not express proteins typical of differentiated cells. Fibroblast-like umbilical cord cells expressed markers of both stem cells and differentiated cells.

Capability of human mesenchymal cells isolated from different sources to differentiation into tissues of mesodermal origin.

We compared the capacity of cultured human skin fibroblasts, human umbilical cord cells obtained after normal delivery on gestation week 38-40, and mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells to differentiation into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. Our findings suggest that mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent cells and can differentiate into adipose, cartilaginous, and bone tissue. Umbilical cord fibroblast-like cells can differentiate into adipocytes and chondrocytes, and only few cells in this culture can differentiate into osteoblasts.

Cytofluorometric analysis of phenotypes of human bone marrow and umbilical fibroblast-like cells.

Comparative analysis of the expression of some surface markers of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, umbilical fibroblast-like cells, and skin fibroblasts was carried out by the flow cytofluorometry method. Mesenchymal stem cells and umbilical fibroblast-like cells were similar by the levels of expression of the main histocompatibility complex antigens, adhesion molecules, and some growth factor receptors. The profile of skin fibroblast surface antigens was characterized by higher expression of the markers typical of differentiated cells.

Comparative study of adult human skin fibroblasts and umbilical fibroblast-like cells.

Expression of markers, collagens, and HLA-1 by human skin fibroblasts and fibroblast-like cells isolated from the umbilical Wharton's jelly was compared. Skin fibroblasts express collagens (proteins characteristic of differentiated cells of this histogenetic series) and HLA-1, while umbilical cells express, in addition to collagens, juvenile surface markers and almost no HLA-1. This indicates that fibroblast-like cells isolated from different sources are different and can serve as sources for the creation of cell preparations with different characteristics in future.