Isolation and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from nasal polyps and olfactory mucosa: a comparative analysis of proliferation and multi-lineage differentiation capacity

Nasal polyps (NPs) and olfactory mucosa (OM) are emerging as potential sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which hold promise for regenerative medicine due to their multipotent differentiation capabilities. This study aimed to isolate MSCs from nasal polyps (NP-MSCs) and evaluate their differentiation potentials in comparison with healthy olfactory mucosa (OM-MSCs). 16 human samples from NP and OM tissues were studied and MSCs were isolated enzymatically. Flow-cytometry analysis was done to characterize the isolated cells; then, tri-lineage differentiation capacity of SCs into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and neurons was evaluated using the differentiation mediums. Finally, the proliferation rate was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8. The outgrowth of cells from NP tissue was observed approximately three days earlier than that from OM tissue. OM-MSCs and NP‐MSCs showed expression of CD markers of mesenchymal cells, including CD105, CD73, CD90, and CD44, but not the markers of hematopoietic cells including CD14, CD45, CD34, and HLA-DR. Cell viability and proliferation rates of NP‐MSCs and OM‐MSCs were both high, and significantly higher in OM-MSC (p-value < 0.001). The multi-lineage differentiation (osteogenic, adipogenic, and neurogenic) of OM-MSCs and NP-MSCs was confirmed. These results showed that MSCs are present in NPs with noticeable differentiation potentials. These cells may play some roles in the pathogenesis of NP. Additionally, nasal polyps, as biowastes, represent a potential novel source of MSCs.