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Amniotic Fluid Cells

Amniotic Fluid Cells

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Amniotic Fluid Cells

The observation that human amniotic fluid contains mesenchymal stem cells has led to much research and advancement in the field of stem cell research. Harvesting of stem cells from amniotic fluid lacks some of the ethical concerns associated with the use of embryonic stem cells. Research is needed to discover therapeutic uses and treatments using stem cells derived from amniotic fluid.

Presence of Stem Cells in Amniotic Fluid

In the early 1990s, it was first reported that amniotic fluid contained undifferentiated cells with therapeutic potential. In 1999, Mosquera et al. demonstrated that amniotic fluid cells possessed pluripotent properties. This discovery was a milestone in the field of amniotic-fluid stem cell research. In 2003, Anker et al. demonstrated for the first time the presence of mesenchymal stem cells in amniotic fluid.

Nature of Amniotic-Fluid Stem Cells

Amniotic-fluid stem cells are isolated from amniotic fluid and have the ability to differentiate into various cell types. Since the collection of amniotic-fluid stem cells does not destroy the embryo, there are less ethical concerns with the use of amniotic fluid stem cells than with the use of embryonic stem cells. Reports that amniotic-fluid stem cells might be pluripotent suggest that these cells might hold much potential for medical application.

Amniotic-fluid stem cells are collected by amniocentesis, a simple clinical procedure that involves inserting a long needle into the sac surrounding the fetus and aspirating a small amount of amniotic fluid. The procedure is generally considered safe, but it does carry some risks of miscarriage, infection to the baby, vaginal bleeding, or leakage of amniotic fluid. The amniotic fluid is processed in a lab and undergoes a gradual cryogenic process in which the cells are slowly frozen to preserve cell life. The frozen cells are stored in a liquid-nitrogen tank.

Legislature

Many states specifically prohibit the use of human embryos for stem cell research. The use of amniotic fluid bypasses some of these ethical concerns. The American Center for Law and Justice is opposed to the use of embryonic stem cells for research but supports alternative avenues including the use of amniotic-fluid stem cells.

In April 2007, the National Amniotic and Placental Stem Cell Bank Act bill was introduced in Congress. The bill called for the establishment of a National Amniotic and Placental Stem Cell Bank by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Democratic representative Daniel Lipinski from Illinois introduced the bill, but it did not pass legislation and was not enacted.

BioCell Center

In 2009, the European Biotechnology firm BioCell opened the first amniotic stem cell bank in the United States in Medford, Massachusetts. Stem cells are preserved in liquid nitrogen for medical centers, families, and research centers. Massachusetts was chosen as the site for BioCell Center because of the state’s support and ongoing work in the field of stem cell research. In 2008, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a $1 billion life sciences initiative with the goal of making Massachusetts a global leader in stem cell research.

Banking amniotic-fluid stem cells is an option for families during pregnancy. This permits the donor access to stem cells should the need arise. There is a financial cost to banking amniotic-fluid stem cells and a small medical risk associated with amniocentesis.

Amniotic-Fluid Stem Cell Research

Moorefield et al. demonstrated the potential for amniotic fluid stem cells to modulate immune response and to be used as immunotherapy.

In 2012, Prasongchean et al. demonstrated the use of amniotic-fluid stem cells in tissue repair. However, stem cells may not fully differentiate into desired cell types and may not completely integrate into the target tissue. When amniotic-fluid stem cells were injected into the spinal cord of injured chick embryos, the cells never did fully differentiate into targeted neurons; however, there was decreased injury and increased survival rate.

Lai et al. conducted a study using amniotic-fluid cells to restore ovarian function in mice. The researchers proposed that their techniques could help treat women experiencing premature ovarian failure improve or restore reproductive health.

Amniotic-fluid stem cells have also been used to restore intestinal function and structure in rodents. The research was conducted to discover new ways to treat necrotizing colitis in infants. Necrotizing colitis is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in newborns and carries a 15% to 30% mortality rate. Currently, the only treatment for necrotizing colitis is surgery and the long-term effects can be devastating. More research is required, but the success of the treatment in rodents gives hope for eventual treatment in humans using amniotic-fluid stem cells to effectively treat this disorder.

Jeannie Randall

Aspen University

See Also: Cartilage, Tendons, and Ligaments: Current Research on Isolation or Production of Therapeutic Cells; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Spinal Cord Injury; Stem Cell Banking.

Further Readings

Advanced Cell Technology. “Ethical Stem Cell Work Advances.” (2014). http://www.advancedcell.com/news-and-media/act-in-the-news/ethical-stem-cell-work-advances/ (Accessed March 2014).

American Center for Law and Justice. “Stem Cell Research.” http://aclj.org/pro-life-2/stem-cell-research (Accessed April 2014).

Anker, P. S. In’t, S. A. Scherjon, C. Kleijburg-Van Der Keur, et al. “Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells of Fetal or Maternal Origin From Human Placenta.” Stem Cells, v.22/7 (2004).

Govtrack.US. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr1892 (Accessed March 2014).

Lai, D., F. Wang, Y. Chen, et al. “Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells Have a Potential to Recover Ovarian Function in Mice With Chemotherapy-Induced Sterility.” BMC Developmental Biology, v.13/34 (2013).

Mosquera, A., J. L. Fernandez, A. Campos, et al. “Simultaneous Decrease of Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity With Ageing of Human Amniotic Fluid Cells.” Journal of Medical Genetics, v.36 (1999).

National Council of State Legislatures. (2008). http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/embryonic-and-fetal-research-laws.aspx (Accessed April 2014).

PLOS.org. “Cloned, CD117 Selected Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells Are Capable of Modulating the Immune Response.” http://www.plosone.org/article/metrics/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0026535#citedHeader (Accessed April 2014).

Prasongchean, W., M. Bagni, C. Calzarossa, et al. “Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells Increase Embryo Survival Following Injury.” Stem Cells and Development, v.21/5 (2012).

Torricelli, F., L. Brizzi, P. A. Bernabei, et al. “Identification of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells in Human Amniotic Fluid Before the 12th Week of Gestation.” Italian Journal of Anatomic Embryology, v.98 (1993).

U.S. National Library of Medicine. “Amniocentesis.” http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003921.htm (Accessed March 2014).

Zani, Augusto, Mara Cananzi, Francesco Fascetti-Leon, et al. “Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells Improve Survival and Enhance Repair of Damaged Intestine in Necrotising Enterocolitis via a COX-2 Dependent Mechanism.” Gut, v.63/2 (2013).