Comparison of the osteogenic differentiation potential of mesenchymal cells isolated from human bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and placenta derived stem cells

Bone marrow has been considered for long time as the main source for mesenchymal stem cells. However, bone marrow aspiration is an invasive process that can be associated with morbidity as well as few numbers of obtained cells. Umbilical cord blood and placental tissues are other potential sources for the same type of cells. These sources are abundant, accessible and associated with no harm to the donor. This study aimed at determining the differentiation of the three cell types towards the osteogenic lineage in short term culture and in classical osteogenic conditions. The gene expression profile showed that bone marrow derived cells were the most responsive to the culture conditions while umbilical cord blood derived cells were next, as shown by the expression by the osteogenic key transcription factors ‘Runx-2’ and osterix. At the meantime, umbilical cord blood and placenta derived cells showed significant enhancement of the gene expression over the study course, which denoted potential response of the cells. Based on these results and the availability of these two sources, umbilical cord blood and placenta should still be considered as potential sources for mesenchymal stem cells in osteogenic research program. However their differentiation potential will need further enhancement.