Stem Cells Dev. 2018 Sep 25. doi: 10.1089/scd.2018.0105. [Epub ahead of print]

Cell Identity, Proliferation, and Cytogenetic Assessment of Equine Umbilical Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

Alizadeh AH¹, Briah R², Villagómez DAF^3,4, King A⁵, Koch TG⁶.

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to determine proliferation capacity, immunophenotype and genome integrity of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from horse umbilical cord blood (UCB) at passage stage 5 and 10. Passage four cryopreserved UCB-MSCs from six unrelated donors were evaluated. Immunophenotypic analysis of UCB-MSC revealed a cell identity consistent with equine MSC phenotype by high expression of CD90, CD44, CD29 and very low expression of CD4, CD11a/18, CD73, and MHC class I and II antigens. Proliferative differences were noted among the UCB-MSC cultures. UCB-MSCs karyotype characteristics at passage 5 (e.g. 2n=64; XY, or XX) included 20% polyploidy and 62% aneuploidy. At passage 10, the proportion of polyploidy and aneuploidy was 21% and 82%, respectively, with the increase in aneuploidy being significant compared to passage 5. Furthermore, conventional GTG-banded karyotyping revealed several structural chromosome abnormalities at both passage 5 and 10. The clinical relevance of such chromosome instability is unknown, but determination of MSC cytogenetic status and monitoring of patient response to MSC therapies would help address this question.