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| Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) occur in a variety of mammalian fetal and adult tissues. To date, most studies have been carried out on bone marrow-derived MSCs, with few studies reported on fetal lung-derived MSCs (LMSC). The purpose of this study was to separate fibroblastic cells from goat fetal lung tissue; culture these cells in vitro; identify their MSC characteristics; induce differentiation of goat fetal LMSCs into osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, islet β-cells, and neurons; and validate their pluripotency. Our findings confirmed that the separated goat fetal LMSCs were fibroblasts capable of efficient growth and proliferation. RT-PCR showed positive expression of the following MSC marker genes compared to the control group: CD13, CD29, CD44, CD90, and CD106, and negative expression of CD45. Induced differentiation of goat fetal LMSCs into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, islet β-cells, and neurons was determined by cytochemical staining methods using Oil Red-O, silver nitrate (AgNO3), alcian blue, dithizone, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), respectively; and confirmed by RT-PCR identification of the marker genes: PPARγ2, collagen I, COL2A1, PDX1, and neuron-specific NSE, respectively. In conclusion, this study showed that goat fetal lung-derived cells possessed the biological characteristics and multipotent differentiation potential of MSCs. In addition, we have established successful methods for the separation, purification, and validation of goat fetal LMSCs, thereby preparing the ground for further cell cloning therapies and associated animal model studies. |
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| Keywords:mesenchymal stem cells; fetal lung; identification; differentiation |
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