Comparison of the Stromal Cells Derived from Bone Marrow and Cord Blood

Objective Compare the basic feature of the stromal cells derived from bone marrow and cord blood culture in vitro, and provide laboratory data for its clinical usage. Methods Dexter long-term culture system was used for bone marrow and cord blood stromal cells culture. Cells proliferation was evaluated by quantity and morphology study of the cells. Components of the stromal cells were detected by histochemistry staining assay and surface antigen expression analysis. Cobble-stone area forming cells (CAFC) and long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) assay was employed to evaluate the function of the stromal cells. Results Adherent cells appeared after 3 days culture from bone marrow and 5-6 days from cord blood. Cells confluence was detected at 10-14 days in bone marrow culture and 12-18 days in cord blood culture. The proliferation of nucleated cells in bone marrow culture was less significant than that in cord blood culture at 21 days. Cells components assay at 21 days suggested that fibroblasts were predominant in bone marrow culture, then were macrophages and endothelial cells, adipocytes were the fewest. While in cord blood culture, macrophages were predominant, the quantity of endothelial cells and macrophages were smaller, and adipocytes were hardly observed. Capacity of supporting CAFC and LTC-IC of stromal cells derived from bone marrow was stronger than that derived from cord blood. Conclusion 1 Time for bone marrow cuture formed adherent cells was less than that for cord blood culture. The proliferation of nucleated cells in bone marrow culture was earlier than that in cord blood culture, which mai- ntained longer time proliferation. 2 fibroblasts were predomina] nt in stromal cells from bone marrow culture , while macrophages were predominant in cord blood culture. 3 stromal cells derived from bone marrow supported better for CAFC and LTC-IC growing than that from cord blood.