Viability and neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from the umbilical cord following perinatal asphyxia.

Objective: Hypoxia-ischemia is the leading cause of neurological handicaps in newborns worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) collected from fresh cord blood of asphyxiated newborns have the potential to regenerate damaged neural tissues. The aim of this study was to examine the capacity for MSCs to differentiate into neural tissue that could subsequently be used for autologous transplantation.

Study Design: We collected cord blood samples from full-term newborns with perinatal hypoxemia (n=27), healthy newborns (n=14) and non-hypoxic premature neonates (n=14). Mononuclear cells were separated, counted, and then analyzed by flow cytometry to assess various stem cell populations. MSCs were isolated by plastic adherence and characterized by morphology. Cells underwent immunophenotyping and trilineage differentiation potential. They were then cultured in conditions favoring neural differentiation. Neural lineage commitment was detected using immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, tubulin III and oligodendrocyte marker O4 antibodies.

Result: Mononuclear cell count and viability did not differ among the three groups of infants. Neural differentiation was best demonstrated in the cells derived from hypoxia-ischemia term neonates, of which 69% had complete and 31% had partial neural differentiation. Cells derived from preterm neonates had the least amount of neural differentiation, whereas partial differentiation was observed in only 12%.

Conclusion: These findings support the potential utilization of umbilical cord stem cells as a source for autologous transplant in asphyxiated neonates.