Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE: We sought to characterize markers of pluripotency in amniotic fluid derived cells as a non-controversial and readily available source of potentially therapeutic stem cells. STUDY DESIGN: Amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSC) express stem cell surface markers as well as transcription factors. Isolation and enrichment of the stem cell population is essential to their therapeutic potential. We studied expression of stem cell surface markers CD 117, CD 133, SSEA3, SSEA4, TRA 160, TRA 181 and CD90; as well as transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and REX 1 by magnetic bead separation, flow cytometry analysis and PCR for transcription factors. Samples were obtained after cytogenetic analysis following routine amniocentesis for age or maternal anxiety in 10 normal patients. Cells were cultured for up to seven passages with analysis after confluence. RESULTS: There was great variation in different samples ability to express the different markers. The most prevalent marker was CD90, a mesenchymal stem cell factor; followed by SSEA4 and TRA160, both embryonic stem cell markers. The other markers were significantly present as well (SSEA3, TRA 160, TRA 181,CD90,OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and REX 1), however CD 117 and CD 133 were often undetectable or present in small amounts. CONCLUSION: There was considerable variation among samples, possibly gestational age related. In Amniotic fluid derived cells, stem cell markers CD90, SSEA4 and TRA160 are expressed in the largest amount with CD90 being the most abundantly expressed marker. Therefore these markers might be used for identification, isolation and enrichment of amniotic fluid stem cells for potential clinical use, since amniotic fluid is widely available and non-controversial as a source of multipotent stem cells.(Table persented)

Abstract This study evaluated in vitro immune responses to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide in maternal and fetal blood. Samples were concurrently obtained from maternal venipuncture and umbilical cord blood samples and cultured with the E. coli endotoxin, and cytokines were assayed. There were statistically significant correlations between maternal and fetal samples. This demonstrates maternal and fetal immune communication and mutual programming during pregnancy. Subclinical infection, which predisposes to premature labor, could be detectable from a maternal blood sample even if derived only from the fetal compartment. A maternal blood panel test might serve as a diagnostic screen for subclinical infection in patients at risk for preterm labor

Abstract The aims of this study were to evaluate the cardiac effects of subcutaneous terbutaline on the mother and fetus. Terbutaline was given in 250 or 500 mug doses to term gravidas not in labor. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse, and uterine activity were measured. The fetal heart rate (FHR), accelerations, and decelerations were recorded. There were significant increases in maternal heart rate, FHR, and FHR accelerations, and a decrease in uterine basal activity after 500 mug, but not significantly after 250 mug of terbutaline. MAP was not significantly increased with either dose, although a small mean increase was observed. Terbutaline has a direct effect on the fetal heart apart from the effect of uterine relaxation.