Yan Yuan1, Wai-Yee Sin, Bofu Xue, Yan Ke, Kai-Tai Tse, Zi Chen, Yi Xie, Yong Xie. 1. Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Hematology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and BioRx Limited, HKUST, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantations serve as effective therapy for a variety of hematologic and other diseases. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an important source of HSCs. However, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient number of HSCs with complete self-renewal capability derived from a single unit of UCB for use in adult transplantation. In this study, we investigated two novel three-dimensional (3D) culture systems (static and rotating) for ex vivo expansion of HSCs from UCB. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We encapsulated the human cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) in alginate 3D static and rotating culture systems, compared the cell number amplification, the proportion of CD34+ cells, and the colony-forming capacity of these systems to those of the conventional two-dimensional (2D) system. The amplified cells were transplanted into nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice to confirm the hematopoiesis reconstruction capacity of the cells. RESULTS: The increase in the cell number and the proportion of CD34+ cells in the CBMCs was more effective in these 3D alginate culture systems than in the conventional 2D culture system under the same conditions (p < 0.05). The stem cell maintenance capability was confirmed by flow cytometry and colony-forming assay ex vivo and NOD/SCID mice xenogeneic transplantation model in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that these 3D alginate culture systems are an efficient way to amplify cord blood HSCs for extended periods without having them lose their self-renewal capacity in vivo. These novel 3D alginate culture systems are promising for the amplification of UCB-derived HSCs for clinical application in the future.
BACKGROUND: Autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantations serve as effective therapy for a variety of hematologic and other diseases. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an important source of HSCs. However, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient number of HSCs with complete self-renewal capability derived from a single unit of UCB for use in adult transplantation. In this study, we investigated two novel three-dimensional (3D) culture systems (static and rotating) for ex vivo expansion of HSCs from UCB. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We encapsulated the human cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) in alginate 3D static and rotating culture systems, compared the cell number amplification, the proportion of CD34+ cells, and the colony-forming capacity of these systems to those of the conventional two-dimensional (2D) system. The amplified cells were transplanted into nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice to confirm the hematopoiesis reconstruction capacity of the cells. RESULTS: The increase in the cell number and the proportion of CD34+ cells in the CBMCs was more effective in these 3D alginate culture systems than in the conventional 2D culture system under the same conditions (p < 0.05). The stem cell maintenance capability was confirmed by flow cytometry and colony-forming assay ex vivo and NOD/SCIDmice xenogeneic transplantation model in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that these 3D alginate culture systems are an efficient way to amplify cord blood HSCs for extended periods without having them lose their self-renewal capacity in vivo. These novel 3D alginate culture systems are promising for the amplification of UCB-derived HSCs for clinical application in the future.