Neil Riordan PhD

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Amnion-derived cells for regenerative medicine

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Most of our research is centered on cells derived from umbilical cord tissue, specifically from the Wharton’s Jelly in umbilical cord. However, there are other products of afterbirth that are being increasingly recognized as potentially useful in regenerative medicine. This is the case with amnion, the membrane filled with amniotic fluid where babies develop – routinely discarded after birth. Amnion is rich in epithelial and mesenchymal cells. This 2019 review characterizes amnion and summarizes the current literature for amnion-derived cell therapy.

Placenta. 2019 Sep 1;84:50-56. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.06.381.

Amnion-derived cells as a reliable resource for next-generation regenerative medicine.

Umezawa A, Hasegawa A, Inoue M, Tanuma-Takahashi A, Kajiwara K, Makino H, Chikazawa E, Okamoto A.

Abstract

The placenta is composed of the amnion, chorionic plate, villous and smooth chorion, decidua basalis, and umbilical cord. The amnion is a readily obtainable source of a large number of cells and cell types, including epithelium, mesenchyme, and endothelium, and is thus an allogeneic resource for regenerative medicine. Endothelial cells are obtained from large arteries and veins in the amniotic membrane as well as the umbilical cord. The amnion-derived cells exhibit transdifferentiation capabilities, including chondrogenesis and cardiomyogenesis, by introduction of transcription factors, in addition to their original and potential phenotypes. The amnion is also a source for production of induced pluripotent stem cells (AM-iPSCs). The AM-iPSCs exhibit stable phenotypes, such as multipotency and immortality, and a unique gene expression pattern. Through the use of amnion-derived cells, as well as other placenta-derived cells, preclinical proof of concept has been achieved in a mouse model of muscular dystrophy.

PMID: 31272680 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.06.381

 

Vitrification preserves Wharton’s Jelly up to a year

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Wharton’s Jelly (WJ), one of the routinely discarded products of afterbirths, is a tissue rich in mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Additionally, its extracellular matrix is rich in collagen, which makes it attractive as scaffolding for tissue engineering. For those of us working with WJ in the lab, a delicate balance must be struck between how to best preserve the tissue and ensuring that WJ is retaining its regenerative properties. In this article, the researchers used a process called vitrification to preserve WJ for up to a year and compared it to both fresh WJ tissue and conventionally cryopreserved WJ. They found that vitrified WJ retained properties comparable to fresh WJ: the extracellular matrix was still viable, and it was possible to isolate and expand MSC.

 

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2019 Jun 25:1-4. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2019.1632831.

Vitrified Wharton’s jelly tissue as a biomaterial for multiple tissue engineering applications.

Mallis P, Boulari D, Chachlaki P, Stavropoulos Giokas C, Michalopoulos E.

Abstract

Wharton’s Jelly (WJ) tissue is a promising biomaterial, for tissue engineering applications. However, its preservation over a long period in order to be readily available needs further optimization. A possible solution could be the vitrification and storage of WJ tissue at low temperatures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of low temperature in the WJ tissue, which was stored at -196 °C, either with the vitrification or conventional cryopreservation methods. WJ tissues were isolated from human umbilical cords, cryopreserved with the above methods and remained for 1 year at -196 °C. Histological analysis of tissue’s extracellular matrix (ECM), isolation, and characterization of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were performed. Histological analysis revealed the presence of ECM components such as collagen, sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs), and the presence of cell nuclei only in vitrified samples. Furthermore, MSCs were isolated and expanded successfully from vitrified WJ tissues, whereas a few viable cells were obtained from conventionally cryopreserved tissues that were not further expanded. In conclusion, this study indicated the proper preservation of vitrified WJ tissues after 1 year of storage, which eventually could be used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches.

PMID: 31237154 DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2019.1632831