Amniotic Epithelial Cells (AEC)

Amniotic epithelial cells (AEC) are a form of stem cells extracted from the lining of the inner membrane of the placenta. These cells are known to have some of the same markers as embryonic stem cells, more specifically, Oct-4 and nanog. Amniotic epithelial cells have the ability to develop into any of the three germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. They can develop into several organ tissues. 

Amniotic epithelial cells lack major histocompatibility antigens, which have been used for transplantation in the treatment of lysosomal diseases. The pluripotentency of the human amniotic epithelial cells makes them useful in treating and fighting diseases and disorders of the nervous system as well as other tissues of the human body. Artificial heart valves and working tracheas, as well as muscle, fat, bone, heart, neural and liver cells have all been engineered using amniotic stem cells. Human amniotic epithelial cells are considered to be a suitable cell model for the study of the release and absorption of dopamine, the receptor signal transduction and the exploration of new drugs acting on these receptors.