CD271 Identifies a Subpopulation with Enhanced Neural-like Potential Within Wharton Jelly Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells.

The heterogenous mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) express the surface antigens associated with distinct cell subpopulations. CD271, characteristic of stem cells derived from the neural crest, could indicate cells with a unique phenotype. The study examined whether the CD271+ subpopulation characterized by better stem and neural properties than the heterogeneous MSC population. The initial Wharton jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) population was divided into two subpopulation: CD271-positive (WJ-MSC-CD271+) and CD271-negative (WJ-MSC-CD271-) with Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). We compared the clonogenic potential and neural marker expression under standard culture conditions and in the presence of nerve tissue components-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or nerve tissue fragments (hippocampus). FACS allowed the enrichment of CD271+ cells from 1% to approximately 50%. WJ-MSC-CD271+ is characterized by significantly more self-renewal cells and increased expression of neuronal genes than WJ-MSC-CD271-. Under co-culture with CSF or hippocampal fragments, WJ-MSC-CD271+ contained more cells expressing Β-III-tubulin as well. Finally, we reported that stimulation with epithelial growth factor (EGF) and basal fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) enhanced CD271+ numbers in the initial population and stabilized them in further cell culture. WJ-MSC-CD271+ cells showed improved potential for differentiation into neural progenitors, although further research is needed for their potential use in neurological diseases.