Cell Differenciation markers in human umbilical cord; an immunohistochemical study

The full-term human umbilical cord is made of three blood vessels ( two arteries and a vein) surrounded by the Wharthon's jelly, a soft cennective tissue made of new mesenchymal stromal cells and an abundant extracellular matrix. Both endothelial and Wharton's jelly are versdatile in their differenciation potential;tewhy have shown to be able to differentiate into sevaral cell lineages. Since the differentiation potential of these cells is very wide, we thought it could be interesting to investigate the expression of several cell differentiation markers in the different regions of human umbilical cord. Immunohistochemistry showed the expression of E- Cadherin and cytokeratyns in the amniotic epithelium, cytokeratins were also expressed in the cells of Wharthon's jelly. Actin and Desmin immnuoreactivity localizes in vessels musculature and in Wharton's jelly. CD31 was expressed only in vessels endothelium, while CD68 by many cells scattered in teh Wharton's jelly and in the vascular compartment.