Isolation, Culture and Identification of Undifferentiated Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (WJ-MSCs) Derived from the Human Umbilical Cord

Wharton’s Jelly-derived Mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) have been found to be an alternative source of stem cells for the regenerative medicine. This is as WJ-MSCs have potential for differentiation, self-renewal and unique immunomodulatory properties. Aim of the work: This work was conducted to assess our lab and staff capabilities in our Tissue Culture and Medical Genetics Unit to isolate, culture, identify and characterize WJ-MSCs derived from the adult human umbilical cord to be used for clinical applications in the future. Material and Methods: WJ-MSCs were isolated from the human umbilical cord collected from late-gestation pregnancy after cesarean section. Isolated WJ-MSCs cultured as P0 and recultured as P1. After confluency, WJ-MSCs were collected and characterized for surface markers expression using flow cytometry technique. Results: WJ-MSCs isolated in this study were positive for CD44, CD90, CD105 and negative for CD34. These findings suggest that WJ-MSCs appeared to be readily obtainable and highly proliferative cell lines that come from noninvasive source. Conclusion: isolated WJ-MSCs may be a good noninvasive source for stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine in the future. However, further studies should be done to evaluate its use as an allogenic cell source and expression of other markers in relation to cell immunogenicity.