Do Maternal and Fetal Demographics Affect the Quality of Umbilical Cord-Derived MSCs? Insights from a Colombian Cohort

Abstract

Background & Aim

Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) have demonstrated regenerative and immunomodulatory properties. However, the influence of maternal and fetal demographics on WJ-MSC quality remains underexplored. Identifying correlations between maternal age, gestational parameters, and fetal characteristics could establish benchmarks for optimizing WJ-MSC isolation and application in clinical contexts. This study investigated correlations between demographic factors and WJ-MSC quality attributes.

Methodology

A retrospective analysis was conducted on WJ-MSCs isolated and characterized per ISCT guidelines. Umbilical cords (UCs) were collected from donors who provided informed consent for biobanking between April 2023 and April 2024. From 28 UCs yielding 48 cell lots, at least one line per cord was randomly analyzed. Data included maternal age, gestational age, parity, and neonatal metrics (weight, length). Infectious disease screenings were conducted on donor medical records and cord blood samples. WJ-MSCs were cultured under normoxic or hypoxic conditions, with quality assessments (P2–P4) including karyotype analysis, flow cytometry for ISCT markers (CD73, CD90, CD105, CD44), viability assays, differentiation potential (adipogenic, chondrogenic, osteogenic), and morphological evaluation. Correlations between demographics and MSC quality attributes were statistically analyzed using Jamovi 2.3.28.

Results

Of 28 UCs collected, 4 were excluded (2 due to infectious disease panel abnormalities, 2 due to contamination). Exclusions showed no correlation with membrane rupture times or other parameters. Mean maternal age was 25.1 years, with median gestational age of 39.1 weeks. All WJ-MSC lines met ISCT's criteria for MSC identity and sterility. Preliminary findings suggested a correlation between time from membrane rupture to delivery and expression levels of CD90, CD105, and CD73. A statistically significant difference in CD73 and CD90 expression variance was observed between male and female neonates, with smaller intervals in females. No significant correlation was identified between proliferation and demographic factors.

Conclusion

Preliminary data indicate that maternal and fetal demographics, particularly time from membrane rupture to delivery, influence specific marker expressions in WJ-MSCs. Markers also exhibit sex-specific differences. Further studies with larger samples and functionality testing are needed to validate findings and establish population-specific WJ-MSC standards.