Objective To study the safety and effect of the umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on apoptosis of human cardiomyocytes (HCM). Methods UCB was collected at the time of delivery with informed consent obtained from 10 donors. The UCB-derived MSCs were treated with 5-azaserube (5-AZA) and were further induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Telomerase activity, G-banding patterns of chromosomal karyotypes, tumor formation in nude mice, RT-PCR, and the effect of inhibiting apoptosis of HCM were investigated. Results MSCs derived from UCB were differentiated into cardiomyocytes in vitro, which possessed telomerase activity after 5-AZA induction, and no abnormal chromosomal karyotypes were observed. Expression of p53, cyclin A, cdk2, β-actin, C-fos, h-TERT and c-myc were similar in MSCs before and after 5-AZA treatment. There was no tumor formation in nude mice after injection of UCB-derived MSCs. UCB-derived MSCs significantly inhibited apoptosis of HCM. Conclusion UCB-derived MSCs are a valuable, safe and effective source of cell-transplantation treatment.
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