Wound-healing potential of human umbilical cord blood–derived mesenchymal stromal cells in vitro —a pilot study

• Published in: Cytotherapy (Oxford, England) Vol. 17; no. 11; pp. 1506 - 1513
• Main Authors: You, Hi-Jin, Namgoong, Sik, Han, Seung-Kyu, Jeong, Seong-Ho, Dhong, Eun-Sang, Kim, Woo-Kyung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Advanced Basic Science; Cell Proliferation; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy - methods; Cells, Cultured; Collagen - metabolism; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation - methods; Diabetes Complications - pathology; Diabetes Complications - therapy; Fetal Blood - cytology; fibroblast; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - metabolism; Fibroblasts - physiology; Fibroblasts - transplantation; human umbilical cord blood stem cells; Humans; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - physiology; Other; Pilot Projects; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; wound healing; Wound Healing - physiology; human umbilical cord blood stem cells; wound healing; fibroblast
• ISSN: 1465-3249; 1477-2566
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2015.06.011

Abstract Background aims Our previous studies demonstrated that human bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stromal cells have great potential for wound healing. However, it is difficult to clinically utilize cultured stem cells. Recently, human umbilical cord blood–derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hUCB-MSCs) have been commercialized for cartilage repair as a first cell therapy product that uses allogeneic stem cells. Should hUCB-MSCs have a superior effect on wound healing as compared with fibroblasts, which are the main cell source in current cell therapy products for wound healing, they may possibly replace fibroblasts. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the wound-healing activity of hUCB-MSCs with that of fibroblasts. Methods This study was particularly designed to compare the effect of hUCB-MSCs on diabetic wound healing with those of allogeneic and autologous fibroblasts. Healthy ( n  = 5) and diabetic ( n  = 5) fibroblasts were used as the representatives of allogeneic and autologous fibroblasts for diabetic patients in the control group. Human UCB-MSCs ( n  = 5) were used in the experimental group. Cell proliferation, collagen synthesis and growth factor (basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-β) production were compared among the three cell groups. Results Human UCB-MSCs produced significantly higher amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor when compared with both fibroblast groups. Human UCB-MSCs were superior to diabetic fibroblasts but not to healthy fibroblasts in collagen synthesis. There were no significant differences in cell proliferation and transforming growth factor-β production. Conclusions Human UCB-MSCs may have greater capacity for diabetic wound healing than allogeneic or autologous fibroblasts, especially in angiogenesis.