A comparison between placental and amniotic mesenchymal stem cells for transamniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) in experimental spina bifida

PurposeWe compared placental-derived and amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs and afMSCs, respectively) in transamniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) for experimental spina bifida.MethodsPregnant dams (n = 29) exposed to retinoic acid for the induction of fetal spina bifida were divided into four groups. Three groups received volume-matched intraamniotic injections of either saline (n = 38 fetuses) or a suspension of 2 × 106 cells/mL of syngeneic, labeled afMSCs (n = 73) or pMSCs (n = 115) on gestational day 17 (term = 21–22 days). Untreated fetuses served as controls. Animals were killed before term. Statistical comparisons were by Fisher's exact test (p < 0.05).ResultsSurvival was similar across treatment groups (p = 0.08). In fetuses with isolated spina bifida (n = 100), there were higher percentages of defect coverage (either partial or complete) in both afMSC and pMSC groups compared with saline and untreated groups (p < 0.001–0.03 in pairwise comparisons). There were no differences in coverage rates between afMSC and pMSC groups (p=0.94) or between saline and untreated groups (p=0.98).ConclusionsBoth pMSC and afMSC can induce comparable rates of coverage of experimental spina bifida after concentrated intraamniotic injection in the rodent model. This broadens the options for timing and cell source for TRASCET as a potential alternative in the prenatal management of spina bifida.