Matrix-mediated retention of adipogenic differentiation potential by human adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells during ex vivo expansion

Recently, cell-based approaches utilizing adipogenic progenitor cells for fat tissue engineering have been developed and reported to have success in promoting in vivo adipogenesis and the repair of defect sites. For autologous applications, human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been suggested as a potential cell source for adipose tissue engineering applications due to their ability to be isolated and ex vivo expanded from adult bone marrow aspirates and their versatility for pluripotent differentiation into various mesenchymal lineages including adipogenic. Due to the relatively low frequency of MSCs present within bone marrow, extensive ex vivo expansion of these cells is necessary to obtain therapeutic cell populations for tissue engineering strategies. Currently, utilization of MSCs for adipose tissue engineering is limited due to the attenuation of their adipogenic differentiation potential following extensive ex vivo expansion on conventional tissue culture plastic (TCP) substrates. In the present study, the ability of a denatured collagen type I (DC) matrix to preserve MSC adipogenic potential during ex vivo expansion was examined. Adipocyte-related markers and functions were examined in vitro in response to adipogenic culture conditions for 21 days in comparison to early passage MSCs and late passage MSCs ex vivo expanded on TCP. The results demonstrated significant preservation of the ability of late passage MSCs ex vivo expanded on the DC matrix to express adipogenic markers (fatty acid-binding protein-4, lipoprotein lipase, acyl-CoA synthetase, adipsin, facilitative glucose transporter-4, and accumulation of lipids) similar to the early passage cells and in contrast to late passage MSCs expanded on TCP. The ability of the DC matrix to preserve adipocyte-related markers and functions of MSCs following extensive ex vivo expansion represents a novel culture technique to expand functional adipogenic progenitors for tissue engineering applications.     

Bioreactor expansion of human adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Supplementation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation alleviates complications such as graft-versus-host disease, leading to a speedy recovery of hematopoiesis. To meet this clinical demand, a fast MSC expansion method is required. In the present study, we examined the feasibility of using a rotary bioreactor system to expand MSCs from isolated bone marrow mononuclear cells. The cells were cultured in a rotary bioreactor with Myelocult medium containing a combination of supplementary factors, including stem cell factor and interleukin-3 and -6. After 8 days of culture, total cell numbers, Stro-1(+)CD44(+)CD34(-) MSCs, and CD34(+)CD44(+)Stro-1(-) HSCs were increased 9-, 29-, and 8-fold, respectively. Colony-forming efficiency-fibroblast per day of the bioreactor-treated cells was 1.44-fold higher than that of the cells without bioreactor treatment. The bioreactor-expanded MSCs showed expression of primitive MSC markers endoglin (SH2) and vimentin, whereas markers associated with lineage differentiation, including osteocalcin (osteogenesis), type II collagen (chondrogenesis), and C/EBP-alpha (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha) (adipogenesis), were not detected. Upon induction, the bioreactor-expanded MSCs were able to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. We conclude that the rotary bioreactor with the modified Myelocult medium reported in this study may be used to rapidly expand MSCs.     

Effects of hindlimb unloading on ex vivo growth and osteogenic/adipogenic potentials of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in rats

The goal of this study was to determine the effects of hindlimb unloading (HU) on the ex vivo growth and the osteogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from the femurs of rats. Microgravity was simulated by 28-day HU in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and the bone marrow (BM) was collected from hindlimb femurs of HU or control (CTL) rats. MSCs were isolated from BM and cultured for eight passages. Then MSCs at passages 2, 4, and 8 were induced for osteogenesis or adipogenesis. The results revealed that HU decreased the osteogenic potential of MSCs and also decreased the expression of osteoblast gene marker mRNAs in cells induced by osteogenic conditions. Meanwhile, the expression of Runx2 mRNA and the phosphorylation of ERK were also decreased. There were no significant differences of osteoblast gene marker and Runx2 mRNA expression between cells induced from different passages of MSCs in UH rats. Under adipogenic conditions, HU increased both the adipogenic potential of MSCs and the expression of adipocytic gene marker mRNAs in induced cells. HU also increased the expression of PPAR gamma 2 mRNA, but with no effect on the phosphorylation of p38MAPK. The adipogenic potential of MSCs and the expression of adipocytic gene marker mRNAs in induced cells decreased along with cell cultures under normal gravity. This suggests that the normal gravity during in vitro MSC culture and the centrifugal force produced during cell harvest after each passage could decrease the adipogenic potential of MSCs, but could not reverse the effect of HU on the osteogenic potential of MSCs.     

Matrix-mediated retention of in vitro osteogenic differentiation potential and in vivo bone-forming capacity by human adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells during ex vivo expansion

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent an attractive cell source for tissue engineering applications, since they are readily isolated from adult bone marrow and have the ability to differentiate along multiple mesenchymal lineages, including osteogenic. Currently, utilization of MSCs for bone tissue engineering is limited because of the attenuation of their osteogenic differentiation potential and in vivo bone-forming capacity following ex vivo expansion on conventional tissue culture plastic (TCP). Previously, we demonstrated that a denatured type I collagen (DC) matrix promotes the maintenance of MSC in vitro osteogenic differentiation potential during ex vivo expansion in contrast to TCP. In this study, we further demonstrate that the maintenance of MSC osteogenic differentiation potential is primarily due to the ability of DC matrix to influence the retention of early passage osteogenic functions in late passage (LP) cells during ex vivo expansion, in contrast to solely enhancing attenuated LP cellular functions during osteogenic differentiation. Serum-associated factors played a significant role in influencing the retention of MSC osteogenic differentiation potential during expansion on the DC matrix. Significantly, the results show that although LP cells expanded ex vivo on TCP highly attentuate their in vivo bone-forming capacity, the expansion of MSCs on DC matrix preserves this ability as determined by histological, histomorphometric, and bone mineral density evaluations of MSC-seeded hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate scaffolds following an 8-week implantation period within a heterotopic muscle pouch model. These findings provide further insight into the importance of matrix-mediated effects on MSC function and selective factors important in this process.     

成人骨髓间充质干细胞对造血干细胞体外增殖的影响

目的研究骨髓间充质干细胞（MSC）对脐带血（CB）CD34^＋细胞体外增殖和造血重建能力的影响。方法取人骨髓单个核细胞贴壁培养．梭形细胞完全融合后传代，用流式细胞仪检测免疫表型；将CBCD34^＋细胞接种到MSC或其他培养液中．比较不同培养条件对造血干细胞扩增能力、集落形成能力及黏附分子表达的影响。结果在加入IL-3的培养体系中．在MSC和细胞因子作用下，CD34^＋细胞扩增7d和14d后，有核细胞（NC）、CD34^＋细胞和CDl33^＋细胞数，实验组均显著多于对照组。CD34＋细胞在未加入IL-3的培养体系中培养8d后，实验组NC、CD34^＋细胞、CD34^＋CD38-细胞和造血祖细胞集落扩增倍数均显著高于对照组。扩增后CD34^＋细胞的ALCAM、VLA-α4、VLA-α5、VLA-β1、HCAM、PECAM和LFA-1表达较扩增前无显著变化。结论MSC可为造血干细胞（HSC）体外扩增提供适宜的微环境，有助于CD34^＋细胞体外增殖并抑制HSC分化，保持其造血重建潜能和归巢能力。     

The dynamic in vivo distribution of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells after infusion

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential to differentiate along different mesenchymal lineages including those forming bone, cartilage, tendon, fat, muscle and marrow stroma that supports hematopoiesis. This differentiation potential makes MSCs candidates for cell-based therapeutic strategies for mesenchymal tissue injuries and for hematopoietic disorders by both local and systemic application. In the present study, rat marrow-derived MSCs were ex vivo culture-expanded, labeled with (111)In-oxine, and infused into syngeneic rats via intra-artery (i.a.), intravenous (i.v.) and intraperitoneal cavity (i.p.) infusions. In addition, for i.a. and i.v. infusions, a vasodilator, sodium nitroprusside, was administered prior to the cell infusion and examined for its effect on MSC circulation. The dynamic distribution of infused MSCs was monitored by real-time imaging using a gamma camera immediately after infusion and at 48 h postinfusion. After 48 h, radioactivity in excised organs, including liver, lungs, kidneys, spleen and long bones, was measured in a gamma well counter and expressed as a percentage of injected doses. After both i.a. and i.v. infusion, radioactivity associated with MSCs was detected primarily in the lungs and then secondarily in the liver and other organs. When sodium nitroprusside was used, more labeled MSCs cleared the lungs resulting in a larger proportion detected in the liver. Most importantly, the homing of labeled MSCs to the marrow of long bones was significantly increased by the pretreatment with vasodilator. These results indicate multiple homing sites for injected MSCs and that the distribution of MSCs can be influenced by administration of vasodilator.     

骨髓间质干细胞研究进展

全能干细胞和多能干细胞具有高度自我更新能力和多向分化潜能 ,是组织工程及细胞和基因治疗中重要的靶细胞。胚胎干细胞是从早期胚胎中分离的 ,具有向机体各种组织细胞分化的潜能 ,但其自身的免疫原性以及取材困难 ,限制了它在临床上的应用。近年来研究发现 ,除了胚胎干细胞外 ,机体内还存在一些多能干细胞 ,它们具有一定的自我更新和分化能力 ,如来源于脑室管膜的神经干细胞可分化为神经元和神经胶质细胞[1] ;骨髓中的造血干细胞可分化为红细胞、粒细胞、巨噬细胞等各种血细胞。而骨髓间质干细胞作为非造血组织干细胞[2 ] ,除了参与构成支…     

Xenotransplantation of long-term-cultured swine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Swine-derived MSCs were efficiently isolated and extensively expanded using a low fetal serum content growth medium to which selected growth factors were added. After > or =96 cell population doublings (PDs), MSCs were devoid of cytogenetic abnormalities. In vitro chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation capacity was preserved after 80 PDs. To test therapeutic efficacy, 1 x 10(6) 80-PD MSCs were injected directly into the peri-infarct zone of hearts of immunodeficient (non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient) mice at the time of acute myocardial infarction. Engrafted MSCs survived in the infarcted hearts for at least 4 weeks. Echocardiography at 2 and 4 weeks postinfarction revealed a significant preservation of the left ventricular ejection fractions of infarct hearts receiving MSCs compared with infarct hearts receiving saline. Peri-infarct zone capillarity was better preserved in MSC-treated hearts than other infarct groups of hearts, but infarct size was comparable in all groups. Only rare engrafted MSCs expressed cardiac-specific or endothelial cell-specific markers. Hence, 80-PD MSCs retained the capacity to promote functional improvement in the infarcted heart despite minimal differentiation of MSCs into cardiomyocytes or endothelial cells. These data suggest that the beneficial effects of MSC transplantation most likely result from the trophic effects of MSC-released substances on native cardiac and vascular cells. The capacity to massively expand MSC lines without loss of therapeutic efficacy may prove to be useful in the clinical setting where "off the shelf" MSCs may be required for interventions in patients with acute coronary syndromes.     

FGF-4 increases in vitro expansion rate of human adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit limited in vitro growth. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) elicit a variety of biological responses, such as cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. FGF-4 represents one of the FGFs with the highest cell mitogenic activity. We studied the effect of FGF-4 on MSCs growth and pluripotency. MSCs duplication time (Td) was significantly reduced with FGF-4 compared to controls (2.2 +/- 0.2 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.2 days, respectively; p = 0.03) while BMP-2 and SCF-1 did not exert a significant growth effect. MSC expression of surface markers, differentiation into adipogenic and osteogenic lineages, and baseline expression of cardiomyogenic genes were unaffected by FGF-4. In summary, exogenous FGF-4 increases the rate at which MSC proliferate and has no significant effect on MSC pluripotency.     

Functional neuronal differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Recent results have shown the ability of bone marrow cells to migrate in the brain and to acquire neuronal or glial characteristics. In vitro, bone marrow-derived MSCs can be induced by chemical compounds to express markers of these lineages. In an effort to set up a mouse model of such differentiation, we addressed the neuronal potentiality of mouse MSCs (mMSCs) that we recently purified. These cells expressed nestin, a specific marker of neural progenitors. Under differentiating conditions, mMSCs display a distinct neuronal shape and express neuronal markers NF-L (neurofilament-light, or neurofilament 70 kDa) and class III beta-tubulin. Moreover, differentiated mMSCs acquire neuron-like functions characterized by a cytosolic calcium rise in response to various specific neuronal activators. Finally, we further demonstrated for the first time that clonal mMSCs and their progeny are competent to differentiate along the neuronal pathway, demonstrating that these bone marrow-derived stem cells share characteristics of widely multipotent stem cells unrestricted to mesenchymal differentiation pathways.     

骨髓间充质干细胞向胶质瘤迁移中血小板衍生生长因子BB的作用

目的探讨血小板衍生生长因子BB(PDGFBB)对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs)定向迁移的影响及其在BMSCs向C6胶质瘤迁移过程中的作用。方法直接贴壁法分离培养传代BMSCs,RT-PCR检测PDGF受体α和β mRNA在BMSCs的表达,用Transwell小室建立体外迁移模型检测PDGFBB对BMSCs迁移的影响及其在BMSCs向C6胶质瘤的迁移过程中的作用,评价p38丝裂原蛋白激酶(p38MAPK)抑制剂SB203580对PDGFBB诱导BMSCs迁移能力改变的影响。结果通过直接贴壁法获得了纯化的BMSCs,RT-PCR证实PDGF受体α和βmRNA在BMSCs呈阳性表达,C6胶质瘤可以诱导BMSCs向胶质瘤细胞定向迁移。用阻断抗体阻断PDGFBB后,向C6胶质瘤发生迁移的BMSCs数量减少;含10ng/mlPDGFBB的无血清培养基可诱导BMSCs迁移;加入SB203580后PDGFBB诱导发生迁移的BMSCs数量减少。结论 PDGFBB是诱导BMSCs向C6胶质瘤发生迁移的细胞因子之一。PDGFBB可诱导BMSCs发生迁移,p38M APK参与了这一过程的信号转导。     

骨髓间充质干细胞的迁移及其相关力/化学因素调控

骨髓间充质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)是一类具有自我更新和多向分化潜能的多能干细胞,在损伤组织的修复和再生中起着重要作用。MSCs从骨髓中动员、进入外周血循环向损伤组织位点定向迁移是其行使损伤组织修复功能的关键环节之一。近年来研究证实,多种力学、化学因素在MSCs向损伤组织位点定向迁移过程中起着重要的调节作用。综述MSCs通过外周血循环向损伤组织位点移动过程中相关力学、化学因素对其迁移行为的影响及其可能的分子机理,以期深入认识理化因素及其耦合对MSCs迁移行为的影响特征,为体外调控MSCs的高效迁移从而更好地应用于临床发挥其组织修复功能提供理论指导。     

Optimized lentiviral transduction of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted much attention as potential platforms for transgene delivery and cell-based therapy for human disease. MSCs have the capability to self-renew and retain multipotency after extensive expansion in vitro, making them attractive targets for ex vivo modification and autologous transplantation. Viral vectors, including lentiviral vectors, provide an efficient means for transgene delivery into human MSCs. In contrast, mouse MSCs have proven more difficult to transduce with lentiviral vectors than their human counterparts, and because many studies use mouse models of human disease, an improved method of transduction would facilitate studies using ex vivo-modified mouse MSCs. We have worked toward improving the production of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-based lentiviral vectors and optimizing transduction conditions for mouse MSCs using lentivirus vectors pseudotyped with the vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G), the ecotropic murine leukemia virus envelope glycoprotein (MLV-E), and the glycoproteins derived from the Armstrong and WE strains of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV-Arm, LCMV-WE). Mouse MSCs were readily transduced following overnight incubation using a multiplicity of infection of at least 40. Alternatively, mouse MSCs in suspension were readily transduced after a 1-h exposure to lentiviral pseudotypes immediately following trypsin treatment or retrieval from storage in liquid nitrogen. LCMV-WE pseudotypes resulted in efficient transduction of mouse MSCs with less toxicity than VSV-G pseudotypes. In conclusion, our improved production and transduction conditions for lentiviral vectors resulted in efficient transduction of mouse MSCs, and these improvements should facilitate the application of such cells in the context of mouse models of human disease.     

骨髓和脂肪来源间充质干细胞的免疫调节作用

背景：脂肪来源的间充质干细胞是否具有和骨髓来源间充质干细胞类似的免疫调节作用? 目的：观察骨髓来源和脂肪来源间充质干细胞的免疫学特征。 方法：分离骨髓和脂肪来源的间充质干细胞,分别检测它们对T细胞周期、活化、抑制和增殖的作用情况。 结果与结论：骨髓来源和脂肪来源的间充质干细胞同样具有抑制T细胞增殖的能力,在有丝分裂原刺激和混合淋巴细胞反应的T细胞增殖中这种作用都是具有剂量依赖性的,在1︰2时有极强的抑制作用,但是在1︰100时这种作用基本消失,在共培养时骨髓来源和脂肪来源的间充质干细胞都可以使更多的T细胞被抑制在G0/G1期,同时也可以抑制T细胞的早期活化,但是上述作用脂肪来源的间充质干细胞均较骨髓来源间充质干细胞弱,且脂肪来源的间充质干细胞并不具有抑制T细胞凋亡的作用。     

骨髓间充质干细胞诱导分化为神经细胞的表型变化

为了研究大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)诱导分化为神经细胞的表型特征,利用贴壁培养法获得骨髓MSCs。化学诱导剂二甲基亚砜(DMSO)和β-巯基乙醇(BME)联合诱导MSCs。免疫组织化学染色检测神经元特异性标志物MAP2、NSE和NF的表达,以及胶质细胞标志物GFAP的表达。硫堇-伊红染色检测细胞内Nissl体。结果表明,DMSO和BME联合诱导MSCs后48h,80%以上的细胞变为神经元样形态,胞体发出数个突起,有的似轴突,突起交织成网。免疫组化结果表明,诱导后细胞表达神经元特异性标志物MAP2、NSE和NF,其诱导率分别为88.6%,87.1%和85.8%。神经干细胞的特征性生物学标记nestin的诱导率在诱导后2h和10h较高,分别为48%和71.4%,而在诱导后48h仅为0.06%。诱导后细胞不表达GFAP。Nissl染色结果表明,诱导后细胞胞质中含有Nissl体。本研究结果证明DMSO和BME联合诱导MSCs可获得具有神经元表型特征的MSCs源性神经细胞。     

芒果苷对缺氧损伤骨髓间充质干细胞凋亡的保护

背景：缺氧性死亡限制了细胞移植和组织再生中细胞的应用。 目的：观察芒果苷对氯化钴作用下骨髓间充质干细胞缺氧损伤性凋亡的保护作用。 方法：体外培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞,应用氯化钴建立细胞缺氧模型,以芒果苷对缺氧损伤下的骨髓间充质干细胞进行保护,通过MTT实验观察芒果苷对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞缺氧损伤的保护作用;采用流式细胞仪检测芒果苷对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞缺氧保护的细胞凋亡及线粒体膜电位检测结果。 结果与结论：氯化钴能显著抑制大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞的生长,并且呈明显的剂量依赖关系。氯化钴200 μmol/L处理细胞12 h,诱导细胞凋亡率为(42.49±3.96)%;处理细胞24 h,诱导细胞凋亡率为(46.37±4.49)%,随着芒果苷浓度的增加,大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞缺氧损伤的凋亡率逐步减少(P < 0.01),芒果苷对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞缺氧损伤具有保护作用,且呈浓度依赖性。结果提示,氯化钴缺氧模型能成功诱导大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞凋亡,具有剂量准确可控、无特殊设备要求、易操作等优点;芒果苷能有效抑制缺氧损伤时骨髓间充质干细胞的凋亡,对细胞具有保护作用。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

牙周膜干细胞诱导骨髓间充质干细胞的牙向分化

目的 探讨牙周膜干细胞(PDLSC)诱导骨髓间充质干细胞(BMMSC)牙向分化的机制,为联合应用PDLSC和BMMSC再生牙周复合体提供实验依据.方法应用Transwell(R)小室法间接联合培养小型猪PDLSC和BMMSC,根据二者混合比例随机分为3组.A组:P∶M=10∶1共培养组;B组:P∶M=1∶1共培养;C组:P:M=1:10共培养,单独PDLSC和BMMSC培养组分别为阳性和阴性对照组.培养14 d,应用免疫荧光染色和实时定量PCR(qRT-PCR)分别检测scleraxis、osteocalcin(OCN)、osterix(OSX)、细胞外基质磷酸糖蛋白(MEPE)蛋白和mRNA表达情况,以判定PDLSC诱导BMMSC成牙的最佳配比比例.结果 免疫荧光染色和qRT-PCR结果均显示scleraxis、OCN和OSX相对mRNA表达水平在A、B、C组间没有统计学差异(P>0.05),但相对MEPE mRNA表达水平在A组却明显高于B组和C组(P＜0.01).结论 联合培养可促进BMMSC获得不同程度的PDLSC特性,且少量的PDLSC同样可以促进BMMSC获得牙源性干细胞特性.     

Therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells producing pigment epithelium-derived factor in lung carcinoma

Specific and efficient gene delivery to target cells and the subsequent expression of the RNA and protein is crucial to the success of gene-based therapy for cancer. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent novel and efficient tools for delivery of therapeutic agents to tumor cells. In this study, we evaluated the potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, genetically modified to express pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) for the treatment of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC). MSCs derived from murine bone marrow were efficiently engineered to express human PEDF by adenoviral transduction, and the expression and bioactivity of the transgenic protein from engineered MSCs were confirmed in vitro. Animal experiments showed that the systemic administration of MSCs treated with PEDF dramatically reduced the growth of LLC tumors and significantly prolonged survival. Immunohistochemistry analysis of the tumors from MSC-PEDF-treated animals indicated an increase in apoptosis and a decrease in microvessel density. ELISA showed that the group of MSCs treated with PEDF had relatively higher expression levels of PEDF in tumor tissue and lower levels in serum compared with the free Ad-PEDF group. These results suggest that MSCs have potential use as effective delivery of vehicles for therapeutic genes in the treatment of LLC.     

High-yield isolation, expansion, and differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells with fibrin microbeads

Fibrin microbeads (FMB), made of extensively cross-linked dense and partially denatured fibrin, were used as a matrix for efficient isolation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from rat bone marrow (BM). After 2 days of incubation of FMB with whole BM in suspension, a high number of cells of mesenchymal origin attached to the FMB. On the 14th day after their transfer to plastic, the yield of the cells isolated via FMB was approximately 3-4 times higher than that obtained by currently used protocols based solely on plastic adhesion. This implies that the number of MSC in BM may be higher than previously reported. FACS analyses and immunostaining showed the mesenchymal characteristics of these cells by positive staining for fibronectin, vimentin, CD49E, and CD29. Immediately after isolation, less than 20% of the cells still expressed the hematopoietic markers CD11b and CD45. Most of these cells were eventually eliminated after further expansion of the isolated cells on plastic. Cells isolated via FMB were expanded in culture for more than 4 months and could be defined as MSC along this time period based on their ability to differentiate into precursors of mesenchymal tissues, such as osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic cells. Similar differentiation plasticity was observed in clones derived from single cells from whole MSC populations isolated via FMB. Based on our results we propose that FMB can serve as a 3-dimensional biodegradable matrix for isolation, differentiation, and possibly implantation of MSC for tissue regeneration.