Essential for fetal environmental homeostasis during gestation, the amnion, which develops from fetal ectoderm and mesoderm has been viewed to be a potential source of stem cells. Recent attempts at stem cell extraction have been from the discarded products of conception (POC) at the time of delivery, a difficult task as the gossamer thin amnion easily fragments and is not easily separated from the chorion and other POCs.
To overcome this problem, our scientists concentrated on the amniotic lining of the umbilical cord instead, bearing in mind that the amnion is in anatomical continuity with the fetus itself via the umbilicus, and have been successful in deriving both epithelial and mesenchymal stem-like cells by tissue explant and enzymatic digestion techniques.
cDNA Mircoarray gene chip tests schematically shows the number of genes expressed individually and in combination in both Cord Lining Mescenchymal Cells (CLMC) and Cord Lining Epithelial Cells (CLEC).
