Human amniotic fluid: a source of stem cells for possible therapeutic use

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Mar;214(3):321-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.12.061. Epub 2016 Jan 6.

Abstract

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with the capacity for differentiation. Amniotic fluid cells have emerged only recently as a possible source of stem cells for clinical purposes. There are no ethical or sampling constraints for the use of amniocentesis as a standard clinical procedure for obtaining an abundant supply of amniotic fluid cells. Amniotic fluid cells of human origin proliferate rapidly and are multipotent with the potential for expansion in vitro to multiple cell lines. Tissue engineering technologies that use amniotic fluid cells are being explored. Amniotic fluid cells may be of clinical benefit for fetal therapies, degenerative disease, and regenerative medicine applications. We present a comprehensive review of the evolution of human amniotic fluid cells as a possible modality for therapeutic use.

Keywords: amniotic fluid; stem cell; therapy; transplantation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amniocentesis
  • Amniotic Fluid / cytology*
  • Fetal Therapies / methods
  • Humans
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods