Amniotic fluid‐derived stem cell potential for therapeutic and surgical use: A review of the literature

Abstract

Objective Spina bifida is a debilitating neutral tube defect affecting many infants. The impact and severity of spina bifida depends on whether the patient exhibits a closed defect, spina bifida occulta, or an open defect, spina bifida aperta. Patients with spina bifida have physical and mental disabilities which merit further research into less invasive, more successful treatments. In addition to serving as protection for the growing fetus and facilitating nutrient exchange, amniotic fluid (AF) is a rich source of a mixed population of stem cells. As such, in vitro culture of AF‐derived stem cells has shown promise among therapeutic and surgical applications. We present a critical evaluation of the current preclinical efforts, amniotic fluid‐derived stem cell (AFSC) culture process, and the subsequent therapeutic application, with a focus on improvements for spina bifida outcomes in the pediatric patient population. Method An evidence ‐ based literature review to investigate the current literature surrounding AFSC culture and use, with an emphasis on the benefits for spina bifida treatment. Results 47 literature sources from PubMed and three studies from ClinicalTrials.gov. Conclusion This review synthesizes the current literature, which shows promising data on AFSC pluripotency, as well as successful in utero coverage from AFSC ‐ supported environments in a multitude of animal models.

Unlocking the Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Gynecology: Where Are We Now?

“…AF-MSCs are a mixed population of stem cells that have also shown promising data among different therapeutic and surgical applications. They express both adult and embryonic cell markers, indicating their stage is between embryonic and adult phenotype, which allows them to differentiate into cells of all three germ layers, including hepatic, myogenic, osteogenic, and neurogenic cell types [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. P-MSCs can be isolated from chorionic villi early in gestation or at the time of birth.…”

Amniotic fluid stem cells: A novel treatment for necrotizing enterocolitis

“…Remarkably, AFSCs do not have the same detrimental effects as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult stem cells ( 26 ). Moreover, they show greater immunosuppressive function and are capable of greater maintenance of pluripotency ( 27 ). Furthermore, AFSCs are not bound by the legal and ethical limitations that ESCs are subject to.…”

“…The general quality of AFSC cultures is significantly correlated with gestational age of the fetus when AF is harvested. In studies with experimental spina bifida patients, MSCs and neural SCs show to have been affected by gestational age ( 27 ). Recent studies with AFSCs show a similar trend, however gestational age is shown to affect paracrine signalling capabilities.…”

“…Thus, the communication between lymphocytes and these cells must be optimized, and gestational age may allow for this to occur. While gestational age yields different effects, cell cultures stratified based on maternal age yielded no significant differences in the quality or repair capabilities ( 27 ).…”

“…For example, harvesting AFSCs from a fetus with NEC. Baughn et al studied whether the use of AFSCs harvested from patients with neural tube defects have differential quality or repair capabilities ( 27 ). Further research is needed to elucidate these implications, thus contributing to the lack of clinical AFSC induction.…”