Differences in the Expression of OCT4A, SOX2, and NANOG in Human Mesenchymal Stem/stromal Cells Derived from Adipose Tissue and Umbilical Cord

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) derived from adult and perinatal tissues exhibit distinct biological and stemness characteristics due to their different developmental origins. These differences are reflected in their proliferative capacity, differentiation potential, and the expression of key pluripotency-related transcription factors: OCT4A, SOX2, and NANOG. We examined protein-level expression and localization of these factors in early-passage adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AT-MSCs) and umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs). OCT4A was more prevalent in UC-MSCs, while SOX2 was higher in AT-MSCs, and NANOG was predominantly expressed in a small subpopulation (~3%) of cells obtained from both sources. OCT4A was mainly localized in the nucleus, whereas SOX2 and NANOG showed mixed nuclear and perinuclear localization. Notably, UC-MSCs exhibited higher proliferative potential, which correlated with higher OCT4 levels. These findings reveal differences in the expression of the pluripotency-related transcription factors OCT4A and SOX2 depending on the source, whereas NANOG exhibits comparable expression levels across the studied MSCs.