Isolation and characterization of multipotential mesenchymal stem cells from feline bone marrow

TLDR

Stem cell isolation from nonrodent animals is scarce, limiting translational research, while domestic cats are widely used in biomedical studies, especially neuroscience. This study aimed to isolate and characterize mesenchymal stem cells from feline bone marrow to support research on stem cell applications relevant to human health. Feline bone marrow MSC were isolated using standard protocols and characterized by morphology, growth kinetics, surface antigen expression, and in vitro differentiation assays. The isolated MSC displayed fibroblast‑like morphology, expressed a surface antigen profile similar to rodent and human MSC, occurred at a frequency of 1 in 3.8 × 10⁵ mononuclear cells, and differentiated into adipogenic, osteogenic, and neuronal lineages, thereby providing a valuable model for future stem cell biology and therapeutic studies.

Abstract

ObjectiveAlthough several types of stem cells have been isolated from rodent and human tissues, very few data exist on stem cell isolation from nonrodent animals, which seriously limits the advancement of stem cell biology and its ultimate translation to human clinical applications. Domestic cats are used frequently in biomedical research and are the preferred species for studies of normal physiology and disease, particularly in neuroscience. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from feline bone marrow for use in research on the application of stem cells to human health problems for which cats are the preferred model.MethodsMesenchymal stem cells from feline bone marrow were isolated by standard methodology developed for other species and characterized according to morphology, growth traits, cell-surface antigen profile, and differentiation repertoire in vitro.ResultsFeline mesenchymal stem cells exhibit a fibroblast-like morphology with bipolar or polygonal cell bodies and possess a cell-surface antigen profile similar to their rodent and human counterparts. Feline MSC exist at a frequency of 1 in 3.8 × 105 bone marrow mononuclear cells and are capable of differentiation to adipocytic, osteocytic, and neuronal phenotypes when exposed to appropriate induction media.ConclusionsMesenchymal stem cells isolated from feline bone marrow possess several traits typical of MSC from other species. Characterization of feline mesenchymal stem cells will facilitate future studies of stem cell biology and therapeutics for which the domestic cat is an indispensable model.