[Comparative study of human fetal and adult bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells].

OBJECTIVE To explore the differences of phenotype and biological characteristics between fetal and adult bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS Mononuclear cells from 4-5 months old human aborted fetus and normal adult bone marrow were cultured in SF medium to obtain mesenchymal stem cells. The growth curve, cell cycle, immunophenotype, in vitro expansion potential, differentiation capacities were investigated. RESULTS The adherent fetal and adult bone marrow-derived cells cultured in the absence of differentiation stimuli gave rise to a population of cells with phenotypical features of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). These MSCs were similar in cell morphology and antigenic phenotype. The proliferative and multilineage differentiation potential of the bone marrow derived MSC from the fetus is higher than that from the adult, but the adherent ability of the MSCs from the adult is higher than that from the fetus. CONCLUSION Fetal bone marrow derived MSCs should be enough to sustain a steady supply of low differentiated cells for proliferation, hence an abundant and accessible cellular reservoir for stem cell bioengineering, whereas adult bone marrow derived MSCs are more useful in hematopoietic reconstitution in bone marrow transplantation.