Isolation and expansion of equine umbilical cord-derived matrix cells (EUCMCs)

• Published in: Cell biology international 2009, Vol.33 (1), p.100-105
• Main Authors: Passeri, Simona, Nocchi, Francesca, Lamanna, Roberta, Lapi, Simone, Miragliotta, Vincenzo, Giannessi, Elisabetta, Abramo, Francesca, Stornelli, Maria Rita, Matarazzo, Micheletino, Plenteda, Daniele, Urciuoli, Patrizia, Scatena, Fabrizio, Coli, Alessandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Separation - methods; Cells, Cultured; Colony-Forming Units Assay; Culture Media; Epidermal growth factor; Epidermal Growth Factor - pharmacology; Equine; Horses; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - drug effects; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - physiology; Stem cells; Umbilical cord; Umbilical Cord - cytology; Umbilical cord-derived matrix cells
• ISSN: 1065-6995; 1095-8355
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cellbi.2008.10.012

Stem cells from extra-embryonic sources can be obtained by non-invasive procedures. We have standardized a method for the expansion of equine umbilical cord-derived matrix cells (EUCMCs) for potential therapy. EUCMCs were isolated from the umbilical cord of five mares immediately after delivery. For expansion, cells were grown in α-MEM and MSCBM. Moreover, to measure the effect of growth factor supplementation, epidermal growth factor (EGF) was added to α-MEM. α-MEM and MSCBM media performed similarly in terms of population doubling and CFU number value. EGF supplementation of α-MEM determined a significant increase of the population doubling value. EGF supplementation did not affect the adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation while bone nodule sizes an increased with the osteogenic protocol. Both α-MEM and MSCBM can be used to cultivate EUCMCs. α-MEM supplemented with EGF might represent an advantage for EUCMCs expansion. The results could be useful in choosing the culture medium since α-MEM is more cost-effective than MSCBM.