Generation of KCL037 clinical grade human embryonic stem cell line.

The KCL037 human embryonic stem cell line was derived from a normal healthy blastocyst donated for research. The ICM was isolated using laser microsurgery and plated on γ-irradiated human foreskin fibroblasts. Both the derivation and cell line propagation were performed in an animal product-free environment and under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards. Pluripotent state and differentiation potential were confirmed by in vitro assays.

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We generated KCL037 clinical grade hESC line following protocols established previously (Ilic et al., 2012, Stephenson et al., 2012), and now adapted to cGMP conditions. The expression of the pluripotency markers was tested after freeze/thaw cycle (Fig. 1). Differentiation potential into three germ layers was verified in vitro (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1

Expression of pluripotency markers. Pluripotency is confirmed by immunostaining (Oct4, Nanog, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity assay. Actin stress fibers, visualized with rhodamine-phalloidin (red), are present in both feeders and hES cell colonies, whereas AP activity (green) is detected only in hES cells. Scale bar, 10 μm.

Fig. 2

Differentiation of three germ layers in vitro is confirmed by detection of markers: smooth muscle actin (red) for mesoderm, β-III tubulin (red) for ectoderm and α-fetoprotein (red) for endoderm. Nuclei are visualized with Hoechst 33,342 (blue). Scale bar, 50 μm.

Molecular karyotyping identified decreased copy number at 2q37.3 (242,930,599–242,948,040) and 3q25.1 (151,368,847–151,542,568). The imbalances identified are considered to be benign copy number variants. The chromosome 3 imbalance was not “called” by software.

Whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis revealed a 542 kb gain on chromosome 18q23 in KCL037 containing two coding genes, SALL3 and ATP9B (Canham et al., 2015). A smaller duplication (nsv577794) covering the same two genes has been reported previously (Cooper et al., 2011).

The KCL037 line is confirmed by PCR to be negative for Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus 1 (HTLV1), Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV1), Hepatitis C Virus (HepC, HCV), Hepatitis B Virus (HepB, HBV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), also called human herpesvirus 4 (HHV4). The testing has been performed by The Doctors Laboratory London.

We also generated research grade of KCL037 line that is adapted to feeder-free conditions.

Materials and methods

Consenting process

We distribute Patient Information Sheet (PIS) and consent form to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients if they opted to donate to research embryos that were stored for 5 or 10 years. They mail signed consent back to us and that might be months after the PIS and consent were mailed to them. If in meantime new versions of PIS/consent are implemented, we do not send these to the patients or ask them to re-sign; the whole process is done with the version that was given them initially. The PIS/consent documents (FRO-V.6) were created on Dec. 18, 2008. HFEA Code of Practice that was in effect at the time of document creation: Edition 7 – R.4 (http://www.hfea.gov.uk/2999.html). The donor couple signed the consent on Sep. 22, 2009. HFEA Code of Practice that was in effect at the time of donor signature: Edition 7 – R.4. HFEA Code of Practice Edition 7 – R.4 was in effect: 02 Oct. 2008–30 Sep. 2009.

Embryo culture and micromanipulation

Embryo culture and laser-assisted dissection of inner cell mass (ICM) were carried out as previously described in details (Ilic et al., 2012, Stephenson et al., 2012). The cellular area containing the ICM was then washed and transferred to plates containing mitotically inactivated human neonatal foreskin fibroblasts (HFF).

Cell culture

ICM plated on mitotically inactivated HFF were cultured as described (Ilic et al., 2012, Stephenson et al., 2012). TE cells were removed mechanically from outgrowth (Ilic et al., 2007, Ilic et al., 2010). hES colonies were expanded and cryopreserved at the third passage.

Viability test

Straws with the earliest frozen passage (p. 2–3) are thawed and new colonies are counted three days later. These colonies are then expanded up to passage 8, at which point cells were part frozen and part subjected to standard battery of tests (pluripotency markers, in vitro and in vivo differentiation capability, genetics, sterility, mycoplasma).

Pluripotency markers

Pluripotency was assessed using two different techniques: enzymatic activity assay [alkaline phosphatase (AP) assay] and immunostaining as described (Ilic et al., 2012, Stephenson et al., 2012).

Differentiation

Spontaneous differentiation into three germ layers was assessed in vitro and in vivo as described (Petrova et al., 2014, Stephenson et al., 2012).

Genotyping

DNA was extracted from hES cell cultures using a Chemagen DNA extraction robot according to the manufacturer's instructions. Amplification of polymorphic microsatellite markers was carried out as described (Ilic et al., 2012). Allele sizes were recorded to give a unique fingerprint of each cell line.

Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH)

aCGH was performed as described in detail (Ilic et al., 2012).

SNP array

SNP array was performed as described in detail (Canham et al., 2015).

HLA typing

HLA-A, − B and -DRB1 typing was performed with a PCR sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe (SSOP; Luminex, Austin, TX, USA) hybridization protocol at the certified Clinical Transplantation Laboratory, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and Serco Plc. (GSTS) Pathology (Guy's Hospital, London, UK) as described (Jacquet et al., 2013).

HLA typing was also performed independently by other group (Canham et al., 2015).

Author disclosure statement

There are no competing financial interests in this study.

Name of stem cell line	KCL037
Institution	King's College London, London UK
Derivation team	Neli Kadeva, Victoria Wood, Glenda Cornwell, Stefano Codognotto, Emma Stephenson
Contact person and email	Dusko Ilic, email: dusko.ilic@kcl.ac.uk
Date archived/stock date	Nov. 21, 2011
Type of resource	Biological reagent: cell line
Sub-type	Human pluripotent stem cell line
Origin	Human embryo
Key marker expression	Pluripotent stem cell markers: NANOG, OCT4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity
Authentication	Identity and purity of line confirmed
Link to related literature (direct URL links and full references)	1) Jacquet, L., Stephenson, E., Collins, R., Patel, H., Trussler, J., Al-Bedaery, R., Renwick, P., Ogilvie, C., Vaughan, R., Ilic, D., 2013. Strategy for the creation of clinical grade hESC line banks that HLA-match a target population. EMBO Mol. Med. 5 (1), 10–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/emmm.201201973http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/231618052) Canham, A., Van Deusen, A., Brison, D.R., De Sousa, P., Downie, J., Devito, L., Hewitt, Z.A., Ilic, D., Kimber, S.J., Moore, H.D., Murray, H., Kunath, T., 2015. The molecular karyotype of 25 clinical-grade human embryonic stem cells lines. Sci. Rep. 5, 17,258. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26607962 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep172583) Ilic, D., Stephenson, E., Wood, V., Jacquet, L., Stevenson, D., Petrova, A., Kadeva, N., Codognotto, S., Patel, H., Semple, M., Cornwell, G., Ogilvie, C., Braude, P., 2012. Derivation and feeder-free propagation of human embryonic stem cells under xeno-free conditions. Cytotherapy. 14 (1), 122–128. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/14653249.2011.623692http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/220296544) Stephenson, E., Jacquet, L., Miere, C., Wood, V., Kadeva, N., Cornwell, G., Codognotto, S., Dajani, Y., Braude, P., Ilic, D., 2012. Derivation and propagation of human embryonic stem cell lines from frozen embryos in an animal product-free environment. Nat. Protoc. 7 (7), 1366–1381. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2012.080http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22722371
Information in public databases	KCL037 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) registered hESC lineNIH Registration Number: NIHhESC-14-0269http://grants.nih.gov/stem_cells/registry/current.htm?id=675
Ethics	The hESC line KCL037 is derived under license from the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (research license numbers: R0075 and R0133) and also has local ethical approval (UK National Health Service Research Ethics Committee Reference: 06/Q0702/90).Informed consent was obtained from all subjects and the experiments conformed to the principles set out in the WMA Declaration of Helsinki and the NIH Belmont Report. No financial inducements are offered for donation.

Consent signed	Sep. 22, 2009
Embryo thawed	Oct. 18, 2011
UK Stem Cell Bank Deposit Approval	Reference:
Sex	Male 46, XY
Grade	Clinical
Disease status	Healthy/Unaffected
Karyotype (aCGH)	Decreased copy number at 2q37.3 and 3q25.1. Both are considered to be benign copy number variants.
SNP Array	Gain on chromosome 18q23 Canham et al. ( 2015)
DNA fingerprint	Allele sizes (in bp) of 16 microsatellite markers specific for chromosomes 13, 18 and 21 Jacquet et al. (2013)
HLA typing	HLA-A 02,03; B 35,40; Bw 06; C 03,04; DRB1 01,13; DRB3 03; DQB1 05,06 Jacquet et al. (2013)Canham et al. (2015)
Viability testing	Pass
Mycoplasma	Negative
Sterility	Pass
Pluripotent markers(immunostaining)(Fig. 1)	NANOG, OCT4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81, AP activity
Three germ layers differentiation in vitro(immunostaining)(Fig. 2)	Endoderm: AFPEctoderm: TUBB3 (tubulin, beta 3 class III)Mesoderm: ACTA2 (actin, alpha 2, smooth muscle)
Sibling lines available	No