Feasibility of serum-free medium in cultivating endometrium-derived mesenchymal stem cell

Objective To dissect and amplify the endometrium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (EnMSCs) in serum-free medium (SFM) in vitro and assess their bionomics. Methods Bionomics of EnMSCs in SFM and serum-containing (fetal bovine serum) medium (SCM), such as morphology, phenotype, proliferative activity, cell viability and differentiation capability, were compared. Results Similar cell morphology was shown within EnMSCs cultivated both in SFM and SCM, while the EnMSCs cultured in SFM showed obvious swirling growth and stronger three-dimensional effect, which was more slender. Surface markers of EnMSCs cultivated both in SFM and SCM were all positive. Cell viability and cell proliferation were higher in SFM than in SCM. Conclusion According to the results of the present study, we can conclude that EnMSCs can be cultivated in SFM with no changes in their differentiating capacity in vitro, and their bionomics (proliferation and cell viability) are better performed than those cultivated in SCM. Therefore, SFM can be used in cell therapy instead of fetal bovine serum. This finding gives us a hope for future cell therapy studies and trials with little concern about zoonotic infections or immunological reaction.