Preeclampsia enhances neuroglial marker expression in umbilical cord Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the neuroglial phenotype of Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSC) from pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia and gestational age (GA)-matched controls.

Methods: WJ-MSC were isolated from umbilical cords from both groups and analyzed for the cell surface expression of MSC markers and the gene and protein expression of neuroglial markers.

Results: All WJ cells were highly positive for the MSC markers CD105, CD90 and CD73, but negative for markers specific for hematopoietic (CD34) and immunological cells (CD45, CD14, CD19 and HLA-DR). WJ-MSC from both groups expressed neuroglial markers (MAP-2, GFAP, MBP, Musashi-1 and Nestin) at the mRNA and protein level. The protein expressions of neuronal (MAP-2) and oligodendrocytic (MBP) markers were significantly increased in WJ-MSC from preeclampsia versus GA-matched controls.

Conclusions: WJ-MSC from preeclamptic patients are possibly more committed to neuroglial differentiation through the activation of pathways involved both in the pathophysiology of the disease and in neurogenesis.

• Mesenchymal stem cells
• neuroglial differentiation
• perinatal brain injury
• preeclampsia
• Wharton's jelly

Acknowledgements

We thank midwives and physicians of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University Hospital Bern for their help in collecting umbilical cords.

Declaration of interest

This study was supported by Cryo-Save AG, Pfäffikon, Switzerland.