Stem Cell Characteristics of Amniotic Epithelial Cells

¹ Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
² Department of Cell Biology & Physiology and McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
³ Department of Patholgy and McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: strom{at}pitt.edu.

	Abstract

Amniotic epithelial cells develop from the epiblast by 8 days after fertilization and prior to gastrulation opening the possibility that they might maintain the plasticity of pre-gastrulation embryo cells. Here we show that amniotic epithelial cells isolated from human term placenta express surface makers normally present on embryonic stem and germ cells. In addition, amniotic epithelial cells express the pluripotent stem cell specific transcription factors octamer-binding protein 4 (Oct-4), and nanog. Under certain culture conditions, amniotic epithelial cells form spheroid structures which retained stem cell characteristics. Amniotic epithelial cells do not require other cell derived feeder layers to maintain Oct-4 expression, do not express telomerase and are non-tumorigenic upon transplantation. Based on immunohistochemical and genetic analysis, amniotic epithelial cells have the potential to differentiate to all three germ layers-endoderm (liver, pancreas), mesoderm (cardiomyocyte), and ectoderm (neural cells) in vitro. Amnion derived from term placenta following live birth may be a useful and non-controversial source of stem cells for cell transplantation and regenerative medicine.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				O. Parolini, F. Alviano, G. P. Bagnara, G. Bilic, H.-J. Buhring, M. Evangelista, S. Hennerbichler, B. Liu, M. Magatti, N. Mao, et al. Concise Review: Isolation and Characterization of Cells from Human Term Placenta: Outcome of the First International Workshop on Placenta Derived Stem Cells Stem Cells, February 1, 2008; 26(2): 300 - 311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. G. M. Extavour Evolution of the bilaterian germ line: lineage origin and modulation of specification mechanisms Integr. Comp. Biol., November 1, 2007; 47(5): 770 - 785. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Can and S. Karahuseyinoglu Concise Review: Human Umbilical Cord Stroma with Regard to the Source of Fetus-Derived Stem Cells Stem Cells, November 1, 2007; 25(11): 2886 - 2895. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Ilancheran, A. Michalska, G. Peh, E. M Wallace, M. Pera, and U. Manuelpillai Stem Cells Derived from Human Fetal Membranes Display Multilineage Differentiation Potential Biol Reprod, September 1, 2007; 77(3): 577 - 588. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-T. Chen, W. Li, Y. Hayashida, H. He, S.-Y. Chen, D. Y. Tseng, A. Kheirkhah, and S. C. G. Tseng Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells as Novel Feeder Layers for Promoting Ex Vivo Expansion of Limbal Epithelial Progenitor Cells Stem Cells, August 1, 2007; 25(8): 1995 - 2005. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Gargett Review Article: Stem Cells in Human Reproduction Reproductive Sciences, July 1, 2007; 14(5): 405 - 424. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Mimeault and S. K. Batra Concise Review: Recent Advances on the Significance of Stem Cells in Tissue Regeneration and Cancer Therapies Stem Cells, November 1, 2006; 24(11): 2319 - 2345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. Bosman, K. A. Lawson, J. Debruyn, L. Beek, A. Francis, L. Schoonjans, D. Huylebroeck, and A. Zwijsen Smad5 determines murine amnion fate through the control of bone morphogenetic protein expression and signalling levels Development, September 1, 2006; 133(17): 3399 - 3409. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Trounson The Production and Directed Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2006; 27(2): 208 - 219. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]