Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are a well-characterized population of adult stem cells. MSC have the potential to develop into mature cells that produce fat, cartilage, bone, tendons, and muscle. These properties, in combination with their developmental plasticity, have generated tremendous interest because of the potential use of MSC in regenerative medicine. MSC isolated from the Wharton’s jelly of the umbilical cord were induced to transform into neurons and glia in vitro by using neuron-conditioned medium, sonic hedgehog, and FGF-8. MSC can also differentiate into cells from the adipogenic and osteogenic lineage. Additionally, they have the potential to differentiate into cardiomyocytes by culturing them in cardiomyocyte-conditioned medium. MSC express the matrix receptors CD44 and CD105 and mesenchymal stem cell markers SH2 and SH3, but not the hematopoietic lineage marker CD34. HUMSC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from Wharton’s jelly of the umbilical cord. HUMSC are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. HUMSC are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to CD73 and/or CD90, Oil Red O staining after adipogenic differentiation, and Alizarin Red staining after osteogenic differentiation. HUMSC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HUMSC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories. Recommended Medium It is recommended to use Mesenchymal Stem Cell Medium (MSCM, Cat. #7501) for culturing HUMSC in vitro.