Impact of the source and serial passaging of goat mesenchymal stem cells on osteogenic differentiation potential:implications for bone tissue engineering

Background: Adult mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) can be conveniently sampled from bone marrow, peripheral blood, muscle, adipose and connective tissue, harvested from various species, including, rodents, dogs, cats, horses,sheep, goats and human beings. The MSCs isolated from adult tissues vary in their morphological and functional properties. These variations are further complicated when cells are expanded by passaging in culture. These differences and changes in MSCs must be considered prior to their application in the clinic or in a basic research study. Goats are commonly used as animal models for bone tissue engineering to test the potential of stem cells for bone regeneration. As a result, goat MSCs isolated from bone marrow or adipose tissue should be evaluated using in vitro assays, prior to their application in a tissue engineering project.Results: In this study, we compared the stem cell properties of MSCs isolated from goat bone marrow and adipose tissue. We used quantitative and qualitative assays with a focus on osteogenesis, including, colony forming unit, rate of cell proliferation, tri-lineage differentiation and expression profiling of key signal transduction proteins to compare MSCs from low and high passages. Primary cultures generated from each source displayed the stem cell characteristics,with variations in their osteogenic potentials. Most importantly, low passaged bone marrow MSCs displayed a significantly higher and superior osteogenic potential, and hence, will be the preferred choice for bone tissue engineering in future in vivo experiments. In the bone marrow MSCs, this process is potentially mediated by the p38 MAPK pathway. On the other hand, osteogenic differentiation in the adipose tissue MSCs may involve the p44/42 MAPK pathway.Conclusions: Based on these data, we can conclude that bone marrow and fat-derived MSCs undergo osteogenesis via two distinct signaling pathways. Even though the bone marrow MSCs are the preferred source for bone tissue engineering, the adipose tissue MSCs are an attractive alternative source and undergo osteo-differentiation differently from the bone marrow MSCs and hence, might require a cell-based enhancer/inducer to improve their osteogenic regenerative capacity.     

In vitro neuronal and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord blood

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capabilities for self-renewal and differentiation into cells with the phenotypes of bone, cartilage, neurons and fat cells. These features of MSCs have attracted the attention of investigators for using MSCs for cell-based therapies to treat several human diseases. Because bone marrow-derived cells, which are a main source of MSCs, are not always acceptable due to a significant drop in their cell number and proliferative/differentiation capacity with age, human umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells are good substitutes for BMCs due to the immaturity of newborn cells. Although the isolation of hematopoietic stem cells from UCB has been well established, the isolation and characterization of MSCs from UCB still need to be established and evaluated. In this study, we isolated and characterized MSCs. UCB-derived mononuclear cells, which gave rise to adherent cells, exhibited either an osteoclast or a mesenchymal-like phenotype. The attached cells with mesenchymal phenotypes displayed fibroblast-like morphologies, and they expressed mesenchym-related antigens (SH2 and vimentin) and periodic acid Schiff activity. Also, UCB-derived MSCs were able to transdifferentiate into bone and 2 types of neuronal cells, in vitro. Therefore, it is suggested that the MSCs from UCB might be a good alternative to bone marrow cells for transplantation or cell therapy.     

Isolation and characterization of bone marrow-derived equine mesenchymal stem cells

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and characterize bone marrow-derived equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for possible future therapeutic applications in horses. SAMPLE POPULATION: Equine MSCs were isolated from bone marrow aspirates obtained from the sternum of 30 donor horses. PROCEDURES: Cells were cultured in medium (alpha-minimum essential medium) with a fetal calf serum content of 20%. Equine MSC features were analyzed to determine selfrenewing and differentiation capacity. For potential therapeutic applications, the migratory potential of equine MSCs was determined. An adenoviral vector was used to determine the transduction rate of equine MSCs. RESULTS: Equine MSCs can be culture-expanded. Equine MSCs undergo cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen without altering morphologic characteristics. Furthermore, equine MSCs maintain their ability to proliferate and differentiate after thawing. Immunocytochemically, the expression of the stem cell marker CD90 can be detected on equine MSCs. The multilineage differentiation potential of equine MSCs was revealed by their ability to undergo adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our data indicate that bone marrow-derived stromal cells of horses can be characterized as MSCs. Equine MSCs have a high transduction rate and migratory potential and adapt to scaffold material in culture. As an autologous cell population, equine MSCs can be regarded as a promising cell population for tissue engineering in lesions of the musculoskeletal system in horses.     

不同代次大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞和脂肪间充质干细胞成骨分化比较

本研究旨在观察不同代次骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs)和脂肪间充质干细胞(ADSCs)体外培养的生长特点和体外诱导成骨能力。通过密度梯度离心和贴壁培养法分离培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞和脂肪间充质干细胞,用含地塞米松、抗坏血酸、β-甘油磷酸钠的培养液定向诱导传代细胞向成骨细胞分化,并利用茜素红染色、碱性磷酸酶染色及PCR方法检测成骨细胞。结果表明骨髓及脂肪间充质干细胞呈成纤维细胞样生长,增殖能力强,生长迅速。第5、10、15、20代BMSCs及ADSCs经诱导培养后茜素红染色呈阳性并且出现"矿化"、碱性磷酸酶活性强,随着细胞代次的递增,诱导后细胞碱性磷酸酶活性呈递减趋势;诱导后的两类细胞传代后细胞仍能继续分化,并形成正常的"矿化"结节,且碱性磷酸酶染色均弱于初次诱导。结果提示,BMSCs及ADSCs易于分离培养及体外扩增,诱导条件下成骨能力强且成骨细胞传代培养仍具有成骨能力,适合作为再生医学骨组织工程的种子细胞。     

Isolation of equine bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells: a comparison between three protocols

Reason for performing the study: There is a need to assess and standardise equine bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) isolation protocols in order to permit valid comparisons between therapeutic trials at different sites. Objective: To compare 3 protocols of equine BM MSC isolation: adherence to a plastic culture dish (Classic) and 2 gradient density separation protocols (Percoll and Ficoll). Materials and methods: BM aspirates were harvested from the sternum of 6 mares and MSCs isolated by all 3 protocols. The cell viability after isolation, MSC yield, number of MSCs attained after 14 days of culture and the functional characteristics (self‐renewal (CFU) and multilineage differentiation capacity) were determined for all 3 protocols. Results: The mean ± s.d. MSC yield from the Percoll protocol was significantly higher (6.8 ± 3.8%) than the Classic protocol (1.3 ± 0.7%). The numbers of MSCs recovered after 14 days culture per 10 ml BM sample were 24.0 ± 12.1, 14.6 ± 9.5 and 4.1 ± 2.5 × 10 ⁶ for the Percoll, Ficoll and Classic protocols, respectively, significantly higher for the Percoll compared with the Classic protocol. Importantly, no significant difference in cell viability or in osteogenic or chondrogenic differentiation was identified between the protocols. At Passage 0, cells retrieved with the Ficoll protocol had lower self‐renewal capacity when compared with the Classic protocol but there was no significant difference between protocols at Passage 1. There were no significant differences between the 3 protocols for the global frequencies of CFUs at Passage 0 or 1. Conclusions and clinical relevance: These data suggest that the Percoll gradient density separation protocol was the best in terms of MSC yield and self‐renewal potential of the MSCs retrieved and that MSCs retrieved with the Ficoll protocol had the lowest self‐renewal but only at passage 0. Then, the 3 protocols were equivalent. However, the Percoll protocol should be considered for equine MSC isolation to minimise culture time.     

Comparative characteristic study from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Tissue engineering has been extensively investigated and proffered to be a potential platform for novel tissue regeneration. The utilization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from various sources has been widely explored and compared. In this regard, MSCs derived from bone marrow have been proposed and described as a promising cell resource due to their high yield of isolated cells with colony-forming potential, self-renewal capacity, MSC surface marker expression, and multi-lineage differentiation capacities in vitro. However, there is evidence for bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) both in vitro and in vivo from different species presenting identical and distinct potential stemness characteristics. In this review, the fundamental knowledge of the growth kinetics and stemness properties of BM-MSCs in different animal species and humans are compared and summarized. Finally, to provide a full perspective, this review will procure results of current information studies focusing on the use of BM-MSCs in clinical practice.     

Impact of source tissue and ex vivo expansion on the characterization of goat mesenchymal stem cells

Background: There is considerable interest in using goats as models for genetically engineering dairy animals and also for using stem cells as therapeutics for bone and cartilage repair. Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) have been isolated and characterized from various species, but are poorly characterized in goats.Results: Goat MSCs isolated from bone marrow(BM-MSCs) and adipose tissue(ASCs) have the ability to undergo osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. Cytochemical staining and gene expression analysis show that ASCs have a greater capacity for adipogenic differentiation compared to BM-MSCs and fibroblasts. Different methods of inducing adipogenesis also affect the extent and profile of adipogenic differentiation in MSCs. Goat fibroblasts were not capable of osteogenesis, hence distinguishing them from the MSCs. Goat MSCs and fibroblasts express CD90, CD105, CD73 but not CD45, and exhibit cytoplasmic localization of OCT4 protein. Goat MSCs can be stably transfected by Nucleofection, but, as evidenced by colony-forming efficiency(CFE), yield significantly different levels of progenitor cells that are robust enough to proliferate into colonies of integrants following G418 selection.BM-MSCs expanded over increasing passages in vitro maintained karyotypic stability up to 20 passages in culture,exhibited an increase in adipogenic differentiation and CFE, but showed altered morphology and amenability to genetic modification by selection.Conclusions: Our findings provide characterization information on goat MSCs, and show that there can be significant differences between MSCs isolated from different tissues and from within the same tissue. Fibroblasts do not exhibit trilineage differentiation potential at the same capacity as MSCs, making it a more reliable method for distinguishing MSCs from fibroblasts, compared to cell surface marker expression.     

Osteogenic potential of sorted equine mesenchymal stem cell subpopulations

The objectives of this study were to use non-equilibrium gravitational field-flow fractionation (GrFFF), an immunotag-less method of sorting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), to sort equine muscle tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MMSCs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) into subpopulations and to carry out assays in order to compare their osteogenic capabilities. Cells from 1 young adult horse were isolated from left semitendinosus muscle tissue and from bone marrow aspirates of the fourth and fifth sternebrae. Aliquots of 800 × 10³ MSCs from each tissue source were sorted into 5 fractions using non-equilibrium GrFFF (GrFFF proprietary system). Pooled fractions were cultured and expanded for use in osteogenic assays, including flow cytometry, histochemistry, bone nodule assays, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for gene expression of osteocalcin (OCN), RUNX2, and osterix. Equine MMSCs and BMSCs were consistently sorted into 5 fractions that remained viable for use in further osteogenic assays. Statistical analysis confirmed strongly significant upregulation of OCN, RUNX2, and osterix for the BMSC fraction 4 with P < 0.00001. Flow cytometry revealed different cell size and granularity for BMSC fraction 4 and MMSC fraction 2 compared to unsorted controls and other fractions. Histochemisty and bone nodule assays revealed positive staining nodules without differences in average nodule area, perimeter, or stain intensity between tissues or fractions. As there are different subpopulations of MSCs with different osteogenic capacities within equine muscle- and bone marrow-derived sources, these differences must be taken into account when using equine stem cell therapy to induce bone healing in veterinary medicine.     

Adult stem cells: perspectives for therapeutic applications

The use of adult stem cells in tissue regeneration appears to be a powerful research tool, due to the intrinsic characteristics of these cells, i.e., self-renewal and unlimited capacity for proliferation. In particular, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from bone marrow or peripheral blood can be easily isolated, cultivated, propagated and can be differentiated into several specialized cell types thanks to their plasticity. Among these cells, MSCs can evolve into cardiac cell lineages. Since heart damage leads to the irreversible loss of cardiac function, cell transplantation could be a potential therapy for heart injury. Our laboratory has focused on the purification and expansion of rat and sheep MSCs, their differentiation into cardiomyocytes and their characterisation. Numerous results indicate that MSCs could be promising for therapy, however we need to better understand the biology of stem cells to improve methods for delivery and/or pharmacological activation. These techniques can indeed track engrafted cells and systems to guarantee their safe use.     

Impact of source tissue and ex vivo expansion on the characterization of goat mesenchymal stem cells

Background

There is considerable interest in using goats as models for genetically engineering dairy animals and also for using stem cells as therapeutics for bone and cartilage repair. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been isolated and characterized from various species, but are poorly characterized in goats.

Results

Goat MSCs isolated from bone marrow (BM-MSCs) and adipose tissue (ASCs) have the ability to undergo osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. Cytochemical staining and gene expression analysis show that ASCs have a greater capacity for adipogenic differentiation compared to BM-MSCs and fibroblasts. Different methods of inducing adipogenesis also affect the extent and profile of adipogenic differentiation in MSCs. Goat fibroblasts were not capable of osteogenesis, hence distinguishing them from the MSCs. Goat MSCs and fibroblasts express CD90, CD105, CD73 but not CD45, and exhibit cytoplasmic localization of OCT4 protein. Goat MSCs can be stably transfected by Nucleofection, but, as evidenced by colony-forming efficiency (CFE), yield significantly different levels of progenitor cells that are robust enough to proliferate into colonies of integrants following G418 selection. BM-MSCs expanded over increasing passages in vitro maintained karyotypic stability up to 20 passages in culture, exhibited an increase in adipogenic differentiation and CFE, but showed altered morphology and amenability to genetic modification by selection.

Conclusions

Our findings provide characterization information on goat MSCs, and show that there can be significant differences between MSCs isolated from different tissues and from within the same tissue. Fibroblasts do not exhibit trilineage differentiation potential at the same capacity as MSCs, making it a more reliable method for distinguishing MSCs from fibroblasts, compared to cell surface marker expression.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2049-1891-6-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Application of a novel sorting system for equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)

The objective of this study was to validate non-equilibrium gravitational field-flow fractionation (GrFFF), an immunotag-less method of sorting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into subpopulations, for use with MSCs derived from equine muscle tissue, periosteal tissue, bone marrow, and adipose tissue. Cells were collected from 6 young, adult horses, postmortem. Cells were isolated from left semitendinosus muscle tissue, periosteal tissue from the distomedial aspect of the right tibia, bone marrow aspirates from the fourth and fifth sternebrae, and left supragluteal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Aliquots of 800 × 10³ MSCs from each tissue source were separated and injected into a ribbon-like capillary device by continuous flow (GrFFF proprietary system). Cells were sorted into 6 fractions and absorbencies [optical density (OD)] were read. Six fractions from each of the 6 aliquots were then combined to provide pooled fractions that had adequate cell numbers to seed at equal concentrations into assays. Equine muscle tissue-derived, periosteal tissue-derived, bone marrow-derived, and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells were consistently sorted into 6 fractions that remained viable for use in further assays. Fraction 1 had more cuboidal morphology in culture when compared to the other fractions. Statistical analysis of the fraction absorbencies (OD) revealed a P-value of < 0.05 when fractions 2 and 3 were compared to fractions 1, 4, 5, and 6. It was concluded that non-equilibrium GrFFF is a valid method for sorting equine muscle tissue-derived, periosteal tissue-derived, bone marrow-derived, and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells into subpopulations that remain viable, thus securing its potential for use in equine stem cell applications and veterinary medicine.     

兔骨髓间充质干细胞的分离培养及肝内示踪

通过分离培养兔骨髓来源的间充质干细胞(MSCs),示踪其肝内移植命运,为MSCs的细胞治疗肝脏疾病提供理论依据和试验支持.采取全骨髓贴壁培养法分离培养兔骨髓MSCs,利用携带增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)的慢病毒载体感染MSCs,选择最优转染效率,并移植入经D-氨基半乳糖诱导的急性/亚急性肝衰竭受体兔体内,荧光显微镜下...     

Stem cell factor supports migration in canine mesenchymal stem cells

Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) are cells that can be defined as multipotent cells able to differentiate into diverse lineages, under appropriate conditions. These cells have been widely used in regenerative medicine, both in preclinical and clinical settings. Initially discovered in bone marrow, MSC can now be isolated from a wide spectrum of adult and foetal tissues. Studies to evaluate the therapeutic potential of these cells are based on their ability to arrive to damaged tissues. In this paper we have done a comparative study analyzing proliferation, surface markers and OCT4, SOX9, RUNX2, PPARG genes expression in MSC cells from Bone marrow (BMMSC) and Adipose tissue (ASC). We also analyzed the role of Stem Cell Factor (SCF) on MSC proliferation and on ASCs metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9 secretion. Healthy dogs were used as BMMSC donors, and ASC were collected from omentum during elective ovariohysterectomy surgery. Both cell types were cultured in IMDM medium with or without SCF, 10% Dog Serum (DS), and incubated at 38 °C with 5% CO2. Growth of BMMSCs and ASCs was exponential until 25–30 days. Flow citometry of MSCs revealed positive results for CD90 and negative for CD34, CD45 and MCH-II. Genes were evaluated by RT-PCR and metalloproteinases by zymografy. Our findings indicate morphological and immunological similarities as well as expression of genes from both origins on analyzed cells. Furthermore, SCF did not affect proliferation of MSCs, however it up-regulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion in ASCs. These results suggest that metalloproteinases are possibly essential molecules pivoting migration.     

Isolation,Culture and Multiple Differentiation Induction of Nanyang Bovine Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The study aimed to build the method of Nanyang bovine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) separation culture in vitro, and study its bionomics and the ability of multiple differentiation induction on this basis. Using bone marrow puncture to take rib bone marrow of 3 months calf, isolation and culture BMSCs, subcultured and determined its curve of growth, detected Oct4, Nanog, Sox2 genes expression by RT-PCR technique, then took P3 BMSCs into neural and fat cells to carry out induction differentiation, and took the use of histology staining technique and RT-PCR technique to detect. The results of the BMSCs were uniform sindleshaped in appearance; RT-PCR could dectect the expression of stem cell factor Oct4, Nanog, Sox2. The results showed that an "S" shape growth curve of cell at different generations times, it entered exponential growth stage at the 3rd day generally, and entered plateau after then the 7th day. Into nerve after induction, stained with toluidine blue was apparent throughout the structure of Nissl substance, ENO2 and GFAP genes showed a positive expression. After adipogenic differentiation of ASCs was assessed by oil Red O staining which showed a large number of lipiddroplet, RT-PCR dectected Leptin and PPAR genes showing a positive expression. The tests showed that had successfully isolated from Nanyang bovine BMSCs and it had the potential of multidirectional differentiation.     

南阳牛骨髓间充质干细胞的分离培养及多向分化

本研究旨在建立南阳牛骨髓间充质干细胞(bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells,BMSCs)体外分离培养方法,在此基础上研究其生物学特性和多向分化的能力。采用骨髓穿刺法取3月龄小牛的肋骨骨髓,分离培养BMSCs,传代培养并测定其生长曲线,RT-PCR检测Oct4、Nanog、Sox2基因的表达,然后取P3 BMSCs分别向神经和脂肪细胞进行诱导分化,并利用组织学染色技术和RT-PCR技术进行鉴定。结果表明,分离得到的BMSCs大小均匀,多呈梭形的成纤维细胞样生长;RT-PCR可检测到干细胞因子Oct4、Nanog、Sox2的表达;不同代次细胞生长曲线呈S型,一般在第3天时进入指数生长期,第7天后进入平台期;成神经诱导后,甲苯胺蓝染色可见明显的尼氏体结构,RT-PCR检测ENO2和GFAP基因表达呈阳性;成脂肪诱导后,油红O染色后可见大量的脂滴存在,RT-PCR检测Leptin和PPAR基因表达呈阳性。试验证明,成功分离得到了南阳牛BMSCs,且其具有多向诱导分化潜能。     

Enhanced tyrosine hydroxylase expression in PC12 cells co-cultured with feline mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) secrete a variety of neuroregulatory molecules, such as nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, which upregulate tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression in PC12 cells. Enhancing TH gene expression is a critical step for treatment of Parkinson''s disease (PD). The objective of this study was to assess the effects of co-culturing PC12 cells with MSCs from feline bone marrow on TH protein expression. We divided the study into three groups: an MSC group, a PC12 cell group, and the combined MSC + PC12 cell group (the co-culture group). All cells were cultured in DMEM-HG medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for three days. Thereafter, the cells were examined using western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. In western blots, the co-culture group demonstrated a stronger signal at 60 kDa than the PC12 cell group (p<0.001). TH was not expressed in the MSC group, either in western blot or immunocytochemistry. Thus, the MSCs of feline bone marrow can up-regulate TH expression in PC12 cells. This implies a new role for MSCs in the neurodegenerative disease process.     

Comparing the osteogenic potential of canine mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissues, bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, and Wharton's jelly for treating bone defects

Alternative sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for replacing bone marrow (BM) have been extensively investigated in the field of bone tissue engineering. The purpose of this study was to compare the osteogenic potential of canine MSCs derived from adipose tissue (AT), BM, umbilical cord blood (UCB), and Wharton''s jelly (WJ) using in vitro culture techniques and in vivo orthotopic implantation assays. After canine MSCs were isolated from various tissues, the proliferation and osteogenic potential along with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production were measured and compared in vitro. For the in vivo assay, MSCs derived from each type of tissue were mixed with β-tricalcium phosphate and implanted into segmental bone defects in dogs. Among the different types of MSCs, AT-MSCs had a higher proliferation potential and BM-MSCs produced the most VEGF. AT-MSCs and UCB-MSCs showed greater in vitro osteogenic potential compared to the other cells. Radiographic and histological analyses showed that all tested MSCs had similar osteogenic capacities, and the level of new bone formation was much higher with implants containing MSCs than cell-free implants. These results indicate that AT-MSCs, UCB-MSCs, and WJ-MSCs can potentially be used in place of BM-MSCs for clinical bone engineering procedures.     

Growth and differentiation characteristics of equine mesenchymal stromal cells derived from different sources

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising therapeutic tool for the treatment of equine tendon and other musculoskeletal injuries. While bone marrow is considered the ‘gold standard’ source of these cells, various other tissues contain MSCs with potentially useful features. The aim of this study was to compare clinically relevant characteristics of MSCs derived from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and tissue and from adipose tissue and tendon. Cell yield, proliferation, migration, tendon marker expression and differentiation into adipocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts was assessed, quantified and compared.MSC numbers obtained from adipose, tendon or umbilical cord tissues were 222-fold higher than those obtained from bone marrow or cord blood. Cells derived from tendon and adipose tissues exhibited most rapid proliferation. Osteogenic differentiation was most prominent in MSCs derived from bone marrow, and was weak in MSCs derived from umbilical cord blood and tissue. In contrast, the highest levels of chondrogenic differentiation were observed in MSCs derived from these sources. Collagen 1A2 expression was highest in adipose- and tendon-derived MSCs, while scleraxis expression was highest in cord blood- and in tendon-derived MSCs. The findings indicate that MSCs from different sources display significantly diverse properties that may impact on their therapeutic application.