Immunohistochemical exploration of differentiation and angiogenesis marker expression in umbilical cord structures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52692/1857-0011.2025.2-82.28Keywords:
AC133, CD105, CD34, mesenchymal cells, progenitor cells, VEGFR-2Abstract
Far from being a mere supportive tissue, Wharton’s jelly functions as a living mesenchymal niche, containing cells with stem-like properties, molecular signals for differentiation, and hints of a tissue dialogue that remains incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to perform an immunohistochemical characterization of CD105, CD34, VEGFR-2, and AC133 marker expression in Wharton’s jelly, in order to highlight the phenotypic diversity and biological potential of its cellular component. The study was conducted on 26 human umbilical cords. The samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, then processed using standard histological techniques and embedded in paraffin. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemically for the markers CD105, CD34, VEGFR-2, and AC133. Marker expression was evaluated semi-quantitatively in three regions of Wharton’s jelly, and the data were analyzed morphologically and statistically. CD105 showed strong expression, particularly in the peripheral zone of Wharton’s jelly, indicating the presence of a mesenchymal population with differentiation potential. CD34 and AC133 highlighted progenitor cell subpopulations with focal distribution and low to moderate intensity. VEGFR-2 was expressed in both endothelial and stromal cells, as well as in the extracellular matrix. A partial overlap of expression zones was observed for the studied markers, without complete cellular co-expression. The study revealed the active, heterogeneous, and functional nature of Wharton’s jelly, suggesting the existence of a complex cellular microenvironment capable of supporting processes such as cellular differentiation and angiogenesis.
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