Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
Osteogenic Potential of Sheep Amniotic
Epithelial Stem Cells
A. Gloria, A. Ioannoni, M. Turriani, M. Marchisio, L. Pierdomenico,
V. Russo, and M. Mattioli
Abstract Amniotic membranes and amniotic fluid have attracted increased atten-
tion as possible sources of stem cells to be used for clinical application in regener-
ative medicine. However, the biology of these cells and the signals required to
effectively direct their differentiation are still largely unknown. This work was
designed to define stemness properties in sheep amniotic epithelial cells (AECs)
and evaluate their osteogenic potential in vitro. Sheep AECs express cell adhesion
markers CD29 and CD49 and the pluripotent stem cell markers Oct4, SOX2,
Nanog, and TERT that are typical of mesenchymal stem cells. Under specific
inductive culture conditions, AECs undergo prompt osteogenic differentiation
with extensive extracellular matrix mineralization, and the remarkable plasticity
of these cells is progressively reduced after six expansion passages.
Keywords Calcein • Cell culture • Differentiation • Stem cell
2.1
Introduction
Regenerative medicine is a new field of medicine with the aim to repair damaged
organs and tissues after disease, traumas, or aging by using stem cells (Stocum
2001
). Current research has mainly focused on the regenerative potential of
A. Gloria (
*
) • A. Ioannoni • M. Turriani • M. Mattioli
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Comparate, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
e-mail:
gloriaalessia@libero.it
M. Marchisio • L. Pierdomenico
Dipartimento di Biomorfologia, The G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
Stem TeCh Group, Chieti, Italy
V. Russo
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Comparate, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
Stem TeCh Group, Chieti, Italy
