CD271 Identifies a Subpopulation with Enhanced Neural-like Potential Within Wharton Jelly Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells

The heterogenous mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) express the surface antigens associated with distinct cell subpopulations. CD271, characteristic of stem cells derived from the neural crest, could indicate cells with a unique phenotype. The study examined whether the CD271+ subpopulation characterized by better stem and neural properties than the heterogeneous MSC population. The initial Wharton jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) population was divided into two subpopulation: CD271-positive (WJ-MSC-CD271+) and CD271-negative (WJ-MSC-CD271−) with Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). We compared the clonogenic potential and neural marker expression under standard culture conditions and in the presence of nerve tissue components—cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or nerve tissue fragments (hippocampus). FACS allowed the enrichment of CD271+ cells from 1% to approximately 50%. WJ-MSC-CD271+ is characterized by significantly more self-renewal cells and increased expression of neuronal genes than WJ-MSC-CD271−. Under co-culture with CSF or hippocampal fragments, WJ-MSC-CD271+ contained more cells expressing Β-III-tubulin as well. Finally, we reported that stimulation with epithelial growth factor (EGF) and basal fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) enhanced CD271+ numbers in the initial population and stabilized them in further cell culture. WJ-MSC-CD271+ cells showed improved potential for differentiation into neural progenitors, although further research is needed for their potential use in neurological diseases.