Derivation, expansion and characterization of clinical grade mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord matrix using cord blood serum.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With increasing use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in regenerative medicine, there is greater awareness towards the need to have clinical grade products. The bovine media currently used allow good expansion to give large number of MSCs of the right quality. This report brings the significance of using cord blood serum (CBS) in the derivation of MSCs from umbilical cord matrix, to help its clinical applicability. METHODS AND RESULTS: MSCs isolated from the cord by explant cultures were expanded and characterized by flow cytometry. Cord blood serum while helping expansion, has the ability to preserve the immunophenotype and differentiation potential of the MSCs derived from the umbilical cords. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MSCs derived and expanded in cord blood serum are better suited for clinical applications.