P0744 - Maternal antenatal marijuana use lowers the biologic potential of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

Background: Human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively studied with therapeutic efficacy in several injury models. Our work has shown therapeutic efficacy of MSCs and their secreted factors in experimental neonatal chronic lung disease and pulmonary hypertension models. Maternal antenatal drugs and disease states can affect the efficacy of MSCs. At present, very limited data are available on maternal marijuana use during pregnancy affecting the MSC biologic potential.

Objective: We hypothesized that human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly MSCs harvested from marijuana exposed cords will lack biologic potential compared with non-exposed cords. Our aims were:
1. To generate human umbilical cord MSCs from marijuana exposed and non-exposed cords.
2. To determine in vitro properties and secreted factors between the two groups.
Design/

Methods: Human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly MSCs from marijuana exposed and non-exposed umbilical cords were isolated and cultured according to our modified protocols. Marijuana exposure was considered positive if mothers have smoked marijuana within the prior two weeks before delivery with a positive urine drug test. In vitro growth, differentiation, and secreted factors were analyzed utilizing duplication time, Western immunoblot, and proteomics analysis.

Results: MSCs were harvested from 3 pooled marijuana exposed cords with 3 non-exposed cords as control. Marijuana exposed MSCs had much shorter duplication and differentiation time compared to non-exposed MSCs. Interestingly, although the marijuana exposed MSCs grew faster, they had lower concentration of cardiopulmonary protective secreted factors compared to non-exposed MSCs.
Conclusion(s): Marijuana exposure during pregnancy leads to a reduction in biologic potential of human umbilical cord MSCs. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are underway to determine the extent of this relationship.