Research training in isolation, characterization and immunomodulatory properties evaluation of multipotent progenitors cells derived from human and equine placenta

Abstract

The fetal annexes have emerged as a promising source of multipotent progenitor cells to regenerative medicine in the last years. Cells from sources such as amniotic membrane, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood and Wharton's jelly have shown high plasticity, low or non-immunogenicity and non-tumorigenicity. Further, these cells are showing to produce soluble substances with immunomodulatory effects closely related with tissues regeneration. In this sense, Dr. Ornella Parolini, from the ¨Centro di Ricerca E. Menni (CREM) of ¨Fondazione Poliambulanza¨ in Brescia-Italy, was pioneer in the study of stem cells derived from placenta making her and the research center directed by her internationally recognized. Differently of studies performed with human, the literature about equine progenitor cells derived from placenta is still scarce. One of the main important groups in this field, working with horses, is conducted by Dr. Fausto Cremonesi from the School of Veterinary Medicine of Milan University, in Lodi-Italy. Dr. Parolini and Dr. Cremonesi have been working together in researches about equine amnion-derived cells with important results. Since our group started working in this research field recently (about 5 years ago) the aim of this project is to provide research training in cell isolation and culture, cryopreservation, molecular biology methods, histologic assays and immunomodulatory effects evaluations under Dr. Parolini supervision. This training will provide the improvement of quality and internationalization of our current and future works. Furthermore, the collaboration of Dr. Cremonesi and Dr. Parolini will allow the study of the modulation of activated T lymphocytes proliferation in co-culture with progenitor cells derived from equine amniotic membranes or conditioned medium as a part of the postdoctoral project entitled ¨ Immunomodulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells derived from equine amniotic membrane: proteomic and cytokine profile of conditioned medium (CM) analysis and its interaction with the immune system¨. Samples of amniotic membrane will be collected during parturition of 10 different mares; cells will be obtained by enzymatic digestion and co-cultured with allogeneic activated lymphocytes, harvested from jugular vein of horses, or in presence of CM, in special conditions. The experiment will be performed in both labs with collaboration of Dr. Cremonesi to haverst, isolate and expand the cells and then, samples will be transported to Dr. Parolini's lab for T cells assay. (AU)