Scientific Journal of

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Mesenchymal stem cells are fibroblasts with the capacity of proliferation, colonogenesis, and differentiation to the mesodermal cells that are known as the source for cell therapy purposes. These cells are present in some adult and embryonic tissues in which the bone marrow serves as the main source of human mesenchymal stem cells. Because of some limitations in using the bone marrow, in this study we established a method for isolation of mesenchymal stem cells from placenta and characterized their properties.

 Materials and Methods

 In this experimental study, we obtained 3 placenta tissues from informed consent mothers after normal vaginal delivery. Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from the placenta, cultured, and were then examined for their proliferation, colonogenesis, immunophenotyping and differentiation capacities from passages 3 and 7.

 Results

 Our results showed the high capacity of proliferation and colonogenesis of placental derived mesenchymal stem cells. Immunophenotyping confirmed more than 95% purity of isolated cells their surface antigen expression showed the phenotypical properties like those of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. The cells had the osteocytic and adipocytic differentiation capacity.

 Conclusions

 In this study we successfully isolated mesenchymal stem cells from placenta and cultured them without any alteration in their capacities consequently, we found out that we can isolate and expand these cells as an alternative source for cell therapies.