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Biochemical Properties of Amniotic Membrane

  • Chapter
Amniotic Membrane

Abstract

The amniotic membrane, also known as amnion, has been recently characterized as a promising source for tissue transplantation. It has several properties that become an attractive tool in several applications. Among the several properties, it could be highlighted their ability to reduce the inflammation status and to secrete pro-apoptotic factors. The cells of amniotic membrane are divided into two subpopulations, amniotic epithelial cells and amniotic mesenchymal cells, which present similar characteristics to stem cells. These cells express pluripotent markers, present high expansion in vitro and can be differentiated into all three germ layer. In this chapter, it will be reviewed the main characteristics of amniotic membrane and its biochemical components.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal

    Sandra Catarina Moreira Rocha & Cláudio Jorge Maia Baptista

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  1. Sandra Catarina Moreira Rocha
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  2. Cláudio Jorge Maia Baptista
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Correspondence to Cláudio Jorge Maia Baptista .

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  1. Health Sciences Research Center, CICS-UBI, Covilhã, Portugal

    Ana Catarina Mamede

  2. Biophysics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Maria Filomena Botelho

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Rocha, S.C.M., Baptista, C.J.M. (2015). Biochemical Properties of Amniotic Membrane. In: Mamede, A., Botelho, M. (eds) Amniotic Membrane. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9975-1_2

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