Comparative Phenotypic Analysis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Bone Marrow, Skin, Adipose Tissue and Umbilical Cord

Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) have multipotency and immense therapeutic potential. Identification of MSC from various anatomical sites allows us easier access to these progenitor cells for tissue engineering and cell-replacement therapy. Here, we compared the most-widely used and easily accessible tissue-derived MSCs, human dermal fibroblasts(HDF), umbilical cord matrix stem cells(UCMSC) and stromal-vascular fraction cells(SVF) from liposuction(SVF-L) and from surgically prepared adipose tissues(SVF-T) with bone marrow-derived MSC(BMMSC). Each type of MSCs were obtained from three different donors and cultured by the same procedure and the same lot of serum. In addition, reproducibility of results from each donors were further confirmed. The phenotypic analyses such as flow cytometry for surface markets, differentiation potential to connective tissues, growth kinetics and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) and tissue specific inhibitor of metalloproteinases(TIMPs) were performed. Tissue-derived MSCs shared surface marker expression with BMMSC when a panel of nine MSC specific antigens, CD90, CD73, CD105, CD44, CD29, CD146, CXCR2, CD34 and CD31, were used. Differentiation to chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages was similar among MSCs from all sources, though differentiation rates varied. Adipogenic differentiation capacity however reduced in HDF and absent in UCMSC, while BMMSC and SVF well retained adipogenic differentiation capacities. Cell proliferation rates were faster in UCMSC and HDF and slower in BMMSC and SVF. According to the secretion profile of MMPs and TIMPs, MSCs are classified into two groups; i) abundantly MMP(1,3) and TIMP(1,2)-secreting HDF and SVF and ii) low level of TIMP(1,2)-secreting BMMSC and UCMSC. Our findings demonstrate multiplicity as well as close relationships of MSCs of various tissue origins to the BMMSC(surface marker expression). Those differences might reflect that different MSCs have different clinical potentials for cell-based therapy.