Isolation of human umbilical cord blood-derived osteoprogenitor cells: a promising candidate for cell-based therapy for bone repair

• Published in: Einstein (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 449 - 455
• Main Authors: Castro-Silva, Igor Iuco, Castro, Letícia de Oliveira, Machado, Janaína José Dos Santos, Nicola, Maria Helena Alves, Granjeiro, José Mauro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein 01.12.2011
• Subjects: Bone regeneration; Cell culture; Fetal blood; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Osteogenesis; Tissue therapy; Umbilical cord; Fetal blood; Cell culture; Osteogênese; Cultura celular; Bone regeneration; Cordão umbilical; Regeneração óssea; Sangue fetal; Terapia tecidual; Umbilical cord; Tissue therapy; Osteogenesis
• ISSN: 1679-4508; 2317-6385; 1679-4508; 2317-6385
• DOI: 10.1590/s1679-45082011ao2196

The aim of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic potential of human umbilical cord blood-derived osteoprogenitor cells and to prove its applicability as a promising candidate for cell-based therapeutics for bone repair. Primary cultures of human umbilical blood cord adherent cells were expanded in vitro until passage 2 and seeded for osteodifferentiation study. Morphological (light microscopy), cytochemical (Von Kossa's method), and functional analyses (calcium level, alkaline phosphatase activity, and total protein content in cell culture) were carried out 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the osteoinduction protocol. The proliferative step showed colony-forming units in 7 days. After osteoinduction, cuboidal cellular morphology similar to osteoblasts at 14 days and mineralization nodules and biochemical changes (increased alkaline phosphatase level and calcium deposits) at 21 days confirmed the osteodifferentiation process. Cell culture of human umbilical blood cord is a reliable technique, constituting itself as an alternative source of osteoprogenitor cells for experimental needs. More animal tests and clinical trials must be carried out to validate its use and to establish quality control of future autologous or allogeneic cell-based therapy aimed at bone repair.