Specificity of Mesenchymal Tissue Stem Cells in Umbilical Cord Applying Immunohistochemical Expression CD271
In the current study, MSCs located in the UC cord were identified by immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of CD271. The results showed that there was significant expression of MSCs in both postdate and early-term umbilical cords, with higher expression in the postdate group. These results agree with previous reports that have described the presence of MSCs in many tissues such as BM, adipose cells, liver tissue, skeletal muscle tissue, amniotic fluid, blood from umbilical cords and oral pulp [2,6]. The wide distribution of MSCs in different tissues highlights their vital biological importance and supports the notion of UC as an important reservoir of these cells.
Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells
The present investigation established the existence of MSCs in the Wharton’s jelly of the HUC by the immunohistochemical expression of the CD271 marker. The results are comparable with earlier research which have shown the isolation of MSCs from various types of tissues including human umbilical cord [7]. The MSCs from Wharton’s jelly are recognized as the major source for regeneration therapy because of their great self-regenerative ability, multi-lineage differentiation potential and immunomodulatory capabilities [8]. The jelly of the Wharton’s is mostly proteoglycans and collagen fibers suspended in a gelatinous matrix. The major function of Wharton’s jelly is to prevent the constriction and twisting of the umbilical veins throughout intrauterine life, while permitting appropriate blood flow, oxygen and nutrition delivery to the developing fetus and removal of carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products [9].
Mesenchymal stem cells extracted from the Wharton’s jelly of the umbilical cord discarded have attracted considerable attention in tissue engineering applications and medical regeneration because of its easy accessibility and cryopreserved for future therapeutic applications. In the present study, CD271 expression was successfully detected in Wharton’s jelly tissues. However, some previous studies reported weak expression of CD271 in freshly isolated Wharton’s jelly samples and suggested that this marker may not be optimal for the isolation of MSCs before culture [2,4].
Previous investigations have shown that mesenchymal stem cells obtained from various tissue origins, such as bone marrow and umbilical cord tissues, typically express markers such as CD44 and CD105, yet lacking the hematopoietic markers CD34 and CD45. These cells also exhibit plastic adherence under standard culture conditions. In addition, CD271 has been identified as an important marker associated with MSCs characterization and isolation [10]
Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Umbilical Cord
In the present study, we found that MSCs were found scattered throughout the umbilical cord tissue and that they had spindle-shaped morphology and were not arranged in a specific manner in either the cytoplasmic or nuclear regions. These finding are different from those of previous studies that showed that there were distinct stem cell populations in the umbilical cord, a feature that distinguishes them from other cell types that are derived from blood [11]. Several authors proposed that MSCs derived from umbilical cords have high molecular and morphological similarity with those derived from bone marrow, including the absence of hematopoietic cell markers and similar biological properties [11]. However, the existence of MSCs in umbilical cord blood (UCB) remains controversial. Some investigators have questioned the existence of MSCs in UCB, stating that MSCs are more prevalent in early fetal blood and are markedly reduced at later gestational ages, which limits the detection and isolation of MSCs from samples of umbilical cord blood obtained from term births [12]. The difficulties of extracting MSCs form umbilical cord blood has been attributed by alternative research as the reason for their comparatively diminished prevalence in relation to bone marrow-derived MSCs. This reduced abundance has raised concerns regarding the suitability of umbilical cord blood as a reliable source of MSCs. Nevertheless, a number of scientists have successfully extracted and defined mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord blood in vitro, proving their potential to develop into many cell lineages including osteogenic, chondrogenic, neurogenic and hepatogenic cells [13, 14]. In the present study, the CD271 marker was utilized to detect MSCs in the UC. In the present study, the CD271 marker was used to detect MSCs in the UC which is consistent with previous studies that used CD271 for the identification of these cells in umbilical cord blood (UCB). However, other studies have shown that CD271 is not a significant marker for the isolation of MSCs from UC blood suggesting that it is not sufficient for direct application to UC tissues [15]. The findings of the present study indicate a reduced yield of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in umbilical cords (UC) from early-term labors, a phenomenon likely continuous with oxidative stress-induced cellular damage. This is in agreement with previous studies that physiological levels of reactivity oxygen species (ROS) are important modulators of multiple cellular functions, while a homeostatic equilibrium with antioxidants is maintained in normal conditions. Conversely, the excess generation of free radicals overcomes the capacity of the antioxidant defense system, leading to oxidative stress that impairs healthy cells. This oxidative environment leads to the degradation of RNA and DNA, subsequently deteriorating biological functions, accelerating cellular aging, and ultimately triggering cell death [16,17]. The present study shows reduced yield of UC MSCs in early-term labor, which may be mediated by oxidative stress. This finding is in agreement with previous reports on the effect of fetal oxidative stress, where increased free radical production has been strongly associated with initiating early labor [18,19].
MSCs Of UC In Postdate and Early Term with Oxidative Stress Factors
We found that the number of MSCs was lower in early-term than in postdate deliveries, probably because of oxidative stress in early-term labor. This may give us a clue to the disease pre-eclampsia, a severe disorder of gestation that leads to hypertension, proteinuria and early labor. Defective placental development and impaired perfusion generate oxidative stress, releasing unbalanced pro- and anti-angiogenic factors into the maternal bloodstream. This circulation of factors damages the vascular endothelium, leading to clinical manifestations of pre-eclampsia. The decidua of the placenta acts as a principal origin of reactivity of oxygen species (ROS) that contribute to this endothelial injury. Crucially, the intrinsic cytoprotective properties of MSCs are activated in such vascular distress, indicating that placental and UC-MSCs are active players in the modulation of oxidative stress in normotensive and pre-eclamptic pregnancies [20]. Further studies have shown that MSCs can downregulate oxidative stress responses induced by inflammatory processes in several pathological situations, including acute kidney injury. Moreover, MSCs have been shown to downregulate senescence-associated protein expression, thereby promoting tissue repair and improving recovery in acute kidney injury cases [21].
The immunohistochemical expression of the CD271 marker described has been labeled as the most accurate indicator for mesenchymal stem cell detection. This marker is specifically shown by these cells; therefore, this marker reveals an adequate method for insulation of the mesenchymal stem cells in UC. The mesenchymal stem cells are among the WJ, which is a gelatinous material made up of multiple isoforms of collagen fiber and proteoglycans. It is a protector of the arteries and veins and prevents twisting and compression. It has a bidirectional flow, providing oxygen and nutrients while eliminating waste and carbon dioxide from the fetus. The umbilical cord blood of the UC reveals CD271 marker expression as stem cells, which are shared in hemopoiesis and angiogenesis in the UC, and the blood of the UC is a special and affluent resource for endothelial precursor cells. In response to oxidative stress, there was widespread vascular endothelium damage as MSCs in the UC were less abundant in the early term labor. Premature labor (early term) is likely due to oxidative stress; this therefore expands the width of the blood vessels as umbilical vein increases the amount blood returning to the fetus.
