First-trimester human decidua contains a population of mesenchymal stem cells.

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.