Comparative Analysis of Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cell (WJ-MSCs) Isolated Using Explant and Enzymatic Methods

Wharton's Jelly is one of the best sources for mesenchymal stem cells. Human Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hWJ-MSCs) have high proliferation, multi-lineage differentiation potential, and do not produce any teratogen or carcinogen. These characteristics make hWJ-MSCs become suitable for regenerative medicine. Some methods were developed to isolate hWJ-MSCs from umbilical cord, such as explant method and enzymatic method. This study aims to characterize hWJ-MSCs which are isolated by two different methods, explant attachment method and enzymatic method. hWJ-MSCs isolation was performed through explant method and enzymatic method using trypsin, hyaluronidase and collagenase type 1 with certain ratio of concentration. Isolated hWJ-MSCs was characterized using flow cytometer to detect the expression of CD44, CD90, CD105, CD73 and negative lineage. MSCs differentiation assay was performed to analyze adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic cells lineage. We successfully isolated hWJ-MSCs from umbilical cord through enzymatic and explant methods. Immunophenotyping assay through flow cytometry analysis showed high purity of WJ-MSCs. The isolated hWJ-MSCs from both methods showed positive expression of CD44, CD90, CD105, and CD73. The isolated hWJ-MSCs exhibited capacity to differentiate into adipocyte, chondrocyte, and osteocyte cells. hWJ-MSCs isolated through explant and enzymatic method have high proliferation capacity and be able to differentiate into three different lineage cells. Both methods explant attachment and enzymatic methods are efficiently produced hWJ-MSCs.