Adult stem cells from bone marrow (MSCs) isolated from different strains of inbred mice vary in surface epitopes, rates of proliferation, and differentiation potential

For reasons that are not apparent, it has been difficult to isolate and expand the adult stem cells referred to as mesenchymal stem cells or marrow stromal cells (MSCs) from murine bone marrow. We developed a protocol that provides rapidly expanding MSCs from 5 strains of inbred mice. The MSCs obtained from 5 different strains of mice were similar to human and rat MSCs in that they expanded more rapidly if plated at very low density, formed single-cell-derived colonies, and readily differentiated into either adipocytes, chondrocytes, or mineralizing cells. However, the cells from the 5 strains differed in their media requirements for optimal growth, rates of propagation, and presence of the surface epitopes CD34, stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). The protocol should make it possible to undertake a large number of experiments with MSCs in transgenic mice that have previously not been possible. The differences among MSCs from different strains may explain some of the conflicting data recently published on the engraftment of mouse MSCs or other bone marrow cells into nonhematopoietic tissues.