@article{Yang_Liu_Zhao_Hao_Huang_Jiang_2014, title={Characterization of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells following tissue mass culture}, volume={60}, url={https://cellmolbiol.org/index.php/CMB/article/view/538}, abstractNote={The human umbilical cord represents a promising resource of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In order to improve our understanding of MSCs derived from human umbilical cord (UC-MSCs), we isolated UC-MSCs from human umbilical cord tissues through a direct culture approach. We performed a comprehensive characterization of these cells based on analyses of morphology, growth features, cell surface antigen markers and differentiation capacity. All these analyses validated their stem cell nature. The UC-MSCs presented a spindle-shaped morphology and could be subcultured for up to 15 passages without losing their cellular features. Moreover, these UC-SMCs presented an expression profile of cell surface antigens similar to other MSCs: positive for CD44, CD90, and CD105 expression and negative for CD34, CD31, and CD45 expression. Differentiation assays further validated the multipotency of UC-MSCs by inducing these cells into osteoblasts, adipocytes and functional hepatocytes. Our studies clearly demonstrated that UC-MSCs resemble other types of MSCs in many aspects and have a great potential to be applied in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.}, number={1}, journal={Cellular and Molecular Biology}, author={Yang, L. M. and Liu, Y. and Zhao, J. and Hao, L. M. and Huang, K. X. and Jiang, W. H.}, year={2014}, month={Mar.}, pages={12–18} }