Extraction and Isolation of MSCs

From bone marrow (BM-MSCs)

Although the MSCs comprise only about a small fraction of the cells isolated from the bone marrow, they can be separated from hematopoietic stem cells owing to their ability to adhere to plastic or glass in culture conditions, excluding non-adherent hematopoietic cells.

The protocols followed worldwide for isolating the MSCs can vary, however they are typically obtained from the mononuclear fraction of the bone marrow after separation by density gradient centrifugation. MSCs adhere to plastic and can be further separated from other cells in the mononuclear fraction this way. In some cases they can be further purified on the basis of the expression of primitive mesenchymal stem cell markers.

OsteoCord SOP for isolation of BM-MSCs (from femoral heads)
Osteocord SOP for isolation of BM-MSCs (from iliac crest)

From umbilical cord blood (CB-MSCs)

Umbilical cord blood can be collected via the placenta from full term deliveries with the informed consent of the mother.

The protocol for isolating MSCs from cord blood is similar to bone marrow. Density gradient centrifugation is used to isolate the mononuclear cells from which the MSCs are separated due to their adherence to plastic.

Osteocord SOP for isolation of CB-MSCs