Comparison of human stem cells derived from various mesenchymal tissues: Superiority of synovium as a cell source

To compare the properties of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from bone marrow, synovium, periosteum, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue.

Human mesenchymal tissues were obtained from 8 donors during knee surgery for ligament injury. After collagenase digestion or gradient-density separation, nucleated cells were plated at an appropriate density for expansion at the maximum rate without colony-to-colony contact. Yield, expandability, differentiation potential, and epitope profile were compared among MSCs from the 5 different tissue sources.