Abstract: Objective To characterize the biological features of CD146⁺ cells from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(UCMSCs), adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells(AMSCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BM-MSCs). Methods MSCs from three tissues were sorted by magnetically activated cell sorting(MACS) to obtain highly purified CD146⁺ subpopulations. The phenotypes and ultra-structures of these three MSC were analyzed by flow-cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. The differentiation abilities were tested by adipogenic and osteogenic inductions. The expression of genes relative to adipogenesis, osteogenesis, stemness or angiogenesis were determined by RT-qPCR. Results CD146⁺ cells derived from three kinds of tissues had similar ultra-structures and the ability of angiogenesis. CD146⁺ AMSCs expressed highest levels of the OCT-4, SOX2 and NANOG genes.Under the same induction conditions, CD146⁺ AMSCs showed higher potential for adipogenesis and CD146⁺BM-MSCs showed higher potential for osteogenesis.However, CD146⁺ UMSCs had little ability for adipogenesis and osteogenesis. All of CD146⁺ MSCs from 3 tissues expressed BFGF, VEGF, Ang-1 and EGF although CD146⁺ BM-MSCs had stronger ability of angiogenesis in vitro. Conclusions CD146⁺ MSCs derived from the 3 sources exhibit different biological characteristics.These results provide a useful biological basis for further studies relative to application of MSCs.

Key words: mesenchymal stem cells, CD146, angiogenesis, biological characteristics