Isolation and characterization of mesenchymal progenitor cells from chorionic villi of human placenta

BM-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are attractive sources for autotransplantation with no risk of rejection, but the use of these cells has problems, including the necessity of harvesting BM from donors, the donors’ age-dependency, limitation to autologous use and difficulty of use for patients with hereditary diseases. We report a method of isolating placenta-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells (PDMPC) that can be used as an alternative source of MSC. We isolated PDMPC from human fetal chorionic villi using the explant culture method, from placentas collected after neonatal delivery (38–40 weeks of gestation). The PDMPC were characterized by morphologic and immunophenotypic analysis. The differentiation ability of mesenchymal and neural lineages was detected using specific culture conditions and determined by morphology, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, histochemical staining and immunocytostaining. The PDMPC all originated from fetal chorionic villi, as confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. The PDMPC population consisted of spindle-shaped cells and large flat cells. The PDMPC expressed CD13, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 and HLA class I as surface epitopes, but not CD31, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR. These cells differentiated into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes under specific culture conditions, and were also induced to form neural-like cells. Our study shows that PDMPC can differentiate into mesenchymal lineages and be induced to form neural-like cells. Thus, PDMPC isolated from chorionic villi of placenta may provide a novel source for the research of stem and progenitor cells in placenta, cell therapy and regenerative medicine, particularly as a source of allogenic mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells with little ethical conflict and various advantages.