Isolation and characterization of novel, highly proliferative human CD34/CD73-double-positive testis-derived stem cells for cell therapy

Stem Cells Dev. 2013 Aug 1;22(15):2158-73. doi: 10.1089/scd.2012.0385. Epub 2013 May 3.

Abstract

Human adult stem cells are a readily available multipotent cell source that can be used in regenerative medicine. Despite many advantages, including low tumorigenicity, their rapid senescence and limited plasticity have curtailed their use in cell-based therapies. In this study, we isolated CD34/CD73-double-positive (CD34(+)/CD73(+)) testicular stromal cells (HTSCs) and found that the expression of CD34 was closely related to the cells' stemness and proliferation. The CD34(+)/CD73(+) cells grew in vitro for an extended period of time, yielding a multitude of cells (5.6×10(16) cells) without forming tumors in vivo. They also differentiated into all three germ layer lineages both in vitro and in vivo, produced cartilage more efficiently compared to bone marrow stem cells and, importantly, restored erectile function in a cavernous nerve crush injury rat model. Thus, these HTSCs may represent a promising new autologous cell source for clinical use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5'-Nucleotidase / metabolism*
  • Adult
  • Adult Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Adult Stem Cells / transplantation
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD34 / metabolism*
  • Azoospermia / pathology
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cell Separation
  • Cell Shape
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Erectile Dysfunction / therapy
  • Flow Cytometry
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Middle Aged
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Recovery of Function
  • Teratoma / pathology
  • Testis / pathology
  • Transcriptome
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Biomarkers
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Insulin
  • 5'-Nucleotidase
  • NT5E protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Azoospermia, Nonobstructive