Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore.
Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2011 Mar;7(1):1-16. doi: 10.1007/s12015-010-9166-x.
The human umbilical cord that originates from the embryo is an extra-embryonic membrane and the Wharton's jelly within it is a rich source of stem cells (hWJSCs). It is not definitely known whether these cells behave as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) or both. They have the unique properties of high proliferation rates, wide multipotency, hypoimmunogenicity, do not induce teratomas and have anticancer properties. These advantages are important considerations for their use in cell based therapies and treatment of cancers. In a search for properties that confer these advantages we compared a detailed transcriptome profiling of hWJSCs using DNA microarrays with that of a panel of known hESCs, hMSCs and stromal cells. hWJSCs expressed low levels of the pluripotent embryonic stem cell markers including POUF1, NANOG, SOX2 and LIN28, thus explaining why they do not produce teratomas. Several cytokines were significantly upregulated in hWJSCs including IL12A which is associated with the induction of apoptosis, thus explaining their anticancer properties. When GO Biological Process analysis was compared between the various stem cell types, hWJSCs showed an increased expression of genes associated with the immune system, chemotaxis and cell death. The ability to modulate immune responses makes hWJSCs an important compatible stem cell source for transplantation therapy in allogeneic settings without immunorejection. The data in the present study which is the first detailed report on hWJSC transcriptomes provide a foundation for future functional studies where the exact mechanisms of these unique properties of hWJSCs can be confirmed.
人脐带来源于胚胎，是一种胚胎外膜，其中的华通氏胶是干细胞（hWJSCs）的丰富来源。目前尚不清楚这些细胞是否表现为人类胚胎干细胞（hESCs）、人类间充质干细胞（hMSC）或两者兼有。它们具有高增殖率、广泛多能性、低免疫原性、不诱导畸胎瘤和抗癌特性等独特特性。这些优势对于它们在基于细胞的治疗和癌症治疗中的应用非常重要。为了寻找赋予这些优势的特性，我们使用 DNA 微阵列比较了 hWJSCs 的详细转录组谱与已知 hESCs、hMSCs 和基质细胞的比较。hWJSCs 表达低水平的多能胚胎干细胞标志物，包括 POUF1、NANOG、SOX2 和 LIN28，这解释了为什么它们不会产生畸胎瘤。几种细胞因子在 hWJSCs 中显著上调，包括与诱导细胞凋亡相关的 IL12A，这解释了它们的抗癌特性。当比较各种干细胞类型之间的 GO 生物学过程分析时，hWJSCs 显示出与免疫系统、趋化性和细胞死亡相关的基因表达增加。调节免疫反应的能力使 hWJSCs 成为同种异体移植治疗中重要的相容干细胞来源，不会引起免疫排斥。本研究中的数据是 hWJSC 转录组的第一个详细报告，为未来的功能研究提供了基础，这些功能研究可以证实 hWJSCs 这些独特特性的确切机制。
