In Vitro Characterization of Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Isolated from Palatal Subepithelial Tissue Grafts

• Published in: Microscopy and microanalysis Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 370 - 380
• Main Authors: Roman, Alexandra, Şoancă, Andrada, Florea, Adrian, Páll, Emőke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.04.2013; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adipocytes - cytology; Adult; Aggregates; Antibiotics; Biological Applications; Cell culture; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Chondrocytes - cytology; Connective tissue; Enzymes; Epithelium - transplantation; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - metabolism; Osteoblasts - cytology; Palate - cytology; Skin & tissue grafts; Stem cells; United States > US; adipose tissue; stem cells; microscopy; differentiation; tissue graft; ultrastructure
• ISSN: 1431-9276; 1435-8115
• DOI: 10.1017/S143192761201433X

The aim of this study was to analyze whether the mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) isolated from palatal tissue grafts harvested in order to cover gingival recessions have the basic characteristics of stem cells. The palatal tissue cells were processed using a special culture medium that stimulated the development of only undifferentiated cellular lines. Cells at passage 4 were evaluated by flow cytometry to examine the expression of specific surface markers and were tested for multilineage differentiation capacity. These cells collected at passage 4 were also investigated for the capacity to cluster into embryoid body aggregates. Palatal MSCs displayed positive staining for the mesenchymal markers CD29, CD73, CD105, CD 49e, and CD44, but did not express hematopoietic markers CD34/45. The palatal MSCs successfully differentiated into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. When seeded in special conditions, palatal MSCs propagated into unattached spheres resembling embryoid body aggregates consisting both of differentiated and undifferentiated cells as revealed at the ultrastructural evaluation. It is concluded that the isolated palatal MSCs fulfilled the basic criteria defining the stem cells. This new source of stem cells characterized here for the first time opens new perspectives on possible applications in basic research and in regenerative medicine.