Objective   To isolate and culture CD44+ cells from human umbilical venous blood

and explore their potentials to differentiate into osteogenesis

neurogenesis and adipogenesis in order to select seed cells for tissue engineering.  Methods   The CD44

+

cells were isolated by immunomagnetic beads from umbilical venous blood and cultured. The cells at passage 2 were studied with flow cytometry for cell cycle and phenotypes. Then the cells were induced to study the ability of osteogenesis

neurogenesis

and adipogenesis. The cell morphology was observed. The ability of differentiation was tested by

immunohistochemiscal assays and Western blot analysis.  Results  The isolated cord blood CD44

+

cells were spindle in shape

with the phenotypes of CD44

+

CD29

+

CD166

+

and CD34

-

. In osteogenic experiment

the cells were positive to alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

and hydroxyapatite nodules were formed by Von-Kossa staining. Nestin

neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were positive expressed in neural inducement experiment. Red O staining was positive in adipose differentiation experiment.  Conclusion  The umbilical venous blood CD44

+

cells are able to differentiate into osteoid

liparoid and neural-like cells in vitro.