Isolation of human mesenchymal stem cells from third-trimester amniotic fluid

ObjectiveTo determine whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated in third-trimester amniotic fluid (AF) and their differentiation induced.MethodSufficient numbers of MSCs were isolated from the AF of 15 healthy women undergoing cesarean delivery in the third trimester to be cultured and induced to differentiate into osteocytes.ResultsReverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed the MSCs to express the pluripotency marker gene OCT4, and flow cytometry showed these cells to be positive for CD29, CD73, CD90, and CD105 and negative for CD31, CD45, and CD61. The MSCs were also determined to be nontumorigenic.ConclusionMultipotent MSCs can be obtained from AF in the third trimester, which may be less dangerous than the second trimester to women and their fetuses.