Amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AF-MSCs) have emerged as an important cell source for therapeutic transplantation. However, little is known about AF-MSCs and their expansion and differentiation, especially in 3-dimensional (3-D) bioreactors for possible clinical applications. In this study, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was used to support the growth of AF-MSCs in spinner flasks. The expansion rate, in vitro differentiation capacities to adiogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages, as well as the percentage of senescence-associated �-galactosidase positive cells from AF-MSCs were investigated and compared to those of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). AF-MSCs exhibited a relatively higher proliferation property with a much shorter doubling time than BM-MSCs. Like BM-MSCs, AF-MSCs were successfully differentiated to adipose, bone and cartilage cells, confirming that AF-MSCs are tripotent. The percentage of senescent cells during subcultures of AF-MSCs was significantly lower than that of BM-MSCs. Thus, AF-MSCs would be a promising cell source for regenerative medicine.

Expansion and differentiation of human amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells in polyethylene terephthalate based 3D bioreactors

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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