Fallopian tubes offer new stem cell source

June 18, 2009

Human tissues normally discarded after surgical procedures could be a rich

additional source of stem cells for regenerative medicine. New research from

BioMed Central's open access Journal of Translational Medicine shows for the

first time that human fallopian tubes are abundant in mesenchymal stem cells

which have the potential of becoming a variety of cell types.

It has previously been shown that mesenchymal stem cells obtained from umbilical

cords, dental pulp and adipose tissue, which are all biological discards, are

able to differentiate into muscle, fat, bone and cartilage cell lineages;

therefore, the search for sources to obtain multipotent stem cells from

discarded tissues and without ethical problems is of great interest.

Tatiana Jazedje, and the research team from Human Genome Research Centre at the

University of São o, directed by Mayana Zatz, with the collaboration of

medical doctors from the reproductive area, set out to isolate and assess the

differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells from discarded human

fallopian tubes. In the study, human fallopian tubes were obtained from

hysterectomy and other gynecological procedures from fertile women in their

reproductive years (range 35-53 years) who had not undergone hormonal treatment

for at least three months prior to surgery.

The Brazilian team found that human fallopian tube mesenchymal stem cells could

be easily isolated and expanded in vitro, and are able to differentiate into

muscle, fat, cartilage and bone cell lines. The cells' chromosome complement

showed no abnormalities, suggesting chromosomal stability. Jazedje comments, " In

addition to providing an additional potential source for regenerative medicine,

these findings might contribute to reproductive science as a whole. "

Jazedje concludes, " Moreover, the use of human tissue fragments that are usually

discarded in surgical procedures does not pose ethical problems. "

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