Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Evaluation of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression in human fetal membranes at different age groups

11^th Annual Conference on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine

October 15-16, 2018 Helsinki, Finland

Ghadeer Ibrahem Al-Refaei, Saleh Al-Karim, Gauthaman Kalamegam and Hassan Abduljabbar

Jeddah University, Saudi Arabia
King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Stem Cell Res Ther

Abstract:

Overexpression of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) is associated with increase in telomere length and its repression cause telomere shortening. The expression level of hTERT in human Fetal Membranes (hFM) is still not clearly established. As such we in the present study evaluated the hTERT expression in human FM from three different age groups to understand if there exists any difference between them. Human fetal membranes (placental and umbilical cord) samples were collected following ethical approval and informed patient consent as follows, Group I: Young (20-29 years; n=15); Group II: Middle (30-39 years, n=16) and Group III: Old (40-50 years, n=17). Total RNA was extracted from fresh FM and cDNA prepared. Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze hTERT expression levels. GAPDH was used as the internal controls were analyzed using ????CT method. In addition, hFM-MSCs were derived, established in culture and characterized for their stem-ness properties by CD marker expression (flowcytometry). The human fetal membranes collected from three different age groups yielded good quantity and quality of RNA. qRT-PCR showed down regulation of hTERT expression in Group II and Group III compared to Group I. There was a statistical decrease by -1.89 fold in Group II and -1.10 fold in Group III, compared to the control. Derived hFM-MSCs were plastic adherent and appeared as short thin fibroblasts. Flow-cytometry showed positive expression of CD73, CD105, CD90, CD29 and negative for CD34, CD45. Expression of hTERT levels showed significant differentially expressed genes in each comparisons group with different age. However, comparison of hTERT levels at the cellular levels (isolated stem cells from hFM-MSCs are expected to provide additional insights. Identification of the expression levels of hTERT in stem cells will directly serve to indicate its life-span and replicative capacity, which will help with selection of the best cell type for use in regenerative medicine.

Biography :

Ghadeer Ibrahem Al-Refaei is a Lecturer at Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Jeddah University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He is a PhD Student at Biology Department, King Abdulaziz. His research interests are in embryology and stem cells culture. He is the Member in embryonic stem research unit at King Fahd Center for Medical Research.

E-mail: ghadeeri@uj.edu.sa