Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 7, 1489-1493,
July 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Oct-4-expressing cells in human amniotic fluid: a new source for stem cell research?
Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna, Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: markus.hengstschlaeger{at}akh-wien.ac.at
BACKGROUND: It is the hope of investigators and patients alike that in future the isolation of pluripotent human stem cells will allow the establishment of therapeutic concepts for a wide variety of diseases. A major aim in this respect is the identification of new sources for pluripotent stem cells. Oct-4 is a marker for pluripotent human stem cells so far known to be expressed in embryonal carcinoma cells, embryonic stem cells and embryonic germ cells. METHODS: Cells from human amniotic fluid samples were analysed for mRNA expression of Oct-4, stem cell factor, vimentin and alkaline phosphatase via RT–PCR. Oct-4 protein expression was investigated by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. Oct-4-positive cells were also analysed for the expression of cyclin A protein via double immunostaining. RESULTS: Performing RT–PCR, Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses revealed that in human amniotic fluid in the background of Oct-4-negative cells a distinct population of cells can be found, which express Oct-4 in the nucleus. Oct-4-positive amniotic fluid cell samples also express stem cell factor, vimentin and alkaline phosphatase mRNA. The Oct-4-positive amniotic fluid cells are actively dividing, proven by the detection of cyclin A expression. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here suggest that human amniotic fluid may represent a new source for the isolation of human Oct-4-positive stem cells without raising the ethical concerns associated with human embryonic research.
Key words: human amniotic fluid/Oct-4/pluripotency/stem cells
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