Water permeability of human hematopoietic stem cells

The influence of temperature treatment before cryopreservation on the viability and potency of cryopreserved and thawed CD34+ and CD45+ cord blood cells

BACKGROUND

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) viability and potency is crucial for qualified cord blood (CB) transplants. This study analyzes time and temperature condition before cryopreservation for the viability of CD34⁺/CD45⁺ cells after cryopreservation.

METHODS

Cell viabilities were determined by antibody co-staining with 7-aminoactinomycin D detecting necrotic cells, and subsequent flow cytometric analysis. Additionally, Annexin V staining for determination of apoptotic cells and colony-forming unit (CFU) assays for testing functional potency of HSCs were performed.

RESULTS

For all cell types assessed (CD45⁺/CD34⁺ cells, lymphocytes and granulocytes), the highest viabilities were obtained for CB maintained at 4°C or room temperature (RT; 22 ± 4°C) and cryopreserved directly after collection. Starting material were CB units with an age of 24.7 ± 3.5 h after birth. Post-thaw CD34⁺ cell results were > 90% after temperature treatment of t = 24 h (48 h total age) and > 70% after t = 48 h (72 h total age) at 4°C (48 h, 91.4 ± 5.5%; 72 h, 75.0 ± 12.0%) and RT (48 h, 84.2 ± 9.7%; 72 h, 72.6 ± 0.6%). Viabilities for 30°C samples were < 80% after t = 24 h (48 h total age, 79.8 ± 3.1%) and < 50% after t = 48 h of treatment (72 h total age, 46.8 ± 14.3%). Regarding CFU recovery of pre-freeze (without volume reduction) and thawed CB, a trend toward the highest recoveries was observed at 4°C/RT. The difference between 4°C (77.5 ± 12.0%) and 30°C samples (53.9 ± 4.8%) was shown to be significant in post-thaw samples after t = 24 h treatment (48 h total age; P = 0.0341).

DISCUSSION

Delays between collection and cryopreservation should be minimized because increasing time reduces numbers of viable cells and CFUs before/after cryopreservation. CB units should be maintained at 4°C/RT to retain the highest possible potency of the cells after thawing.

Improved postthaw viability and in vitro functionality of peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cells after cryopreservation with a theoretically optimized freezing curve

BACKGROUND

The freezing curve currently used for the cryopreservation of peripheral blood stem cell transplants (PBSCTs) has been determined empirically. Although the use of cryopreserved PBSCTs is successful and usually leads to rapid hematopoietic recovery, the freeze-thawing process is known to induce a significant degree of cell death. Furthermore, the infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), used to protect the cells against damage induced by freezing, can cause morbidity. Therefore, optimizing the current cryopreservation protocol (with 10% DMSO and a slow linear cooling curve) with theoretically optimized freezing curves and a lower DMSO concentration might improve the recovery after transplantation.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A theoretical model was used to predict optimal freezing curves for 5 and 10 percent DMSO. CD34+-selected and -unselected PBSCs were cryopreserved with the current or the new freezing curves. Postthaw quality was evaluated by cell viability, colony formation, and megakaryocyte outgrowth.

RESULTS

With 10 percent DMSO, the use of the predicted optimal freezing curve resulted in increased postthaw viability of CD34+ cells, colony formation, and megakaryocyte outgrowth. Lowering the DMSO concentration to 5 percent resulted in improved postthaw viability and functionality, which was not further improved by use of the theoretically optimized freezing curve.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the current cryopreservation method for PBSCTs can be improved by either lowering the DMSO concentration to 5 percent or by using the theoretically optimized freezing curve. Infusion of less DMSO and more viable cells might improve the outcome of PBSCT.

Quantitative Examination of a Perfusion Microscope for the Study of Osmotic Response of Cells

The perfusion microscope was developed for the study of the osmotic response of cells. In this microscope, the cells are immobilized in a transparent chamber mounted on the stage and exposed to a variety of milieus by perfusing the chamber with solutions of different concentrations. The concentration of the supplied solution is controlled using two variable-speed syringe pumps, which supply an isotonic solution and a hypertonic solution. Before using this system to characterize the osmotic response of cells, the change in the concentration of NaCl solution flowing through the chamber is examined quantitatively using a laser interferometer and an image processing technique. The NaCl concentration is increased from an isotonic condition to a hypertonic condition abruptly or gradually at a given constant rate, and decreased from a hypertonic condition to an isotonic condition. It is confirmed that the concentration is nearly uniform in the cross direction at the middle of the chamber, and the change in the NaCl concentration is reproducible. The average rate of increase or decrease in the measured concentration agrees fairly well with the given rate when the concentration is changed gradually at a constant rate. The rate of the abrupt change is also determined to be the highest limit achieved by the present method. As the first application of using the perfusion microscope for biological studies, the volume change of cells after exposure to a hypertonic solution is measured. Then, the hydraulic conductivity of the cell membrane is determined from the comparison of the volume change between the experiment and the theoretical estimation for the measured change in the NaCl concentration of the perfused solution.

Cryopreservation of umbilical cord blood: 1. Osmotically inactive volume, hydraulic conductivity and permeability of CD34(+) cells to dimethyl sulphoxide

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an accepted treatment for the reconstitution of bone marrow function following myeloablative treatment predominantly in children and juveniles. Current cryopreservation protocols use methods established for bone marrow and peripheral blood progenitors cells that have largely been developed empirically. Such protocols can result in losses of up to 50% of the nucleated cell population: losses unacceptable for cord blood. The design of optimal cryopreservation regimes requires the development of addition and elution protocols for the chosen cryoprotectant; protocols that minimise damaging osmotic transients. The biophysical parameters necessary to model the addition and elution of dimethyl sulphoxide to and from cord blood CD34(+) cells have been established. An electronic particle counting method was used to establish the volumetric response of CD34(+) cells to changes in osmolality of the suspending medium. The non-osmotic volume of the cell was 0.27 of the cells isotonic volume. The permeation kinetics of CD34(+) cells to water and dimethyl sulphoxide were investigated at two temperatures, +1.5 and +20 degrees C. Values for the hydraulic conductivity were 3.2 x 10(-8) and 2.8 x 10(-7)cm/atm/s, respectively. Values for the permeability of dimethyl sulphoxide at these temperatures were 4.2 x 10(-7) and 7.4 x 10(-6)cm/s, respectively. Clonogenic assays indicated that the ability of CD34(+) cells to grow and differentiate was significantly impaired outside the limits 0.6-4x isotonic. Based on the Boyle van't Hoff plot, the tolerable limits for cell volume excursion were therefore 45-140% of isotonic volume. The addition and elution of cryoprotectant was modelled using a two-parameter model. Current protocols for the addition of cryoprotectant based on exposure at +4 degrees C would require additional time for complete equilibration of the cryoprotectant. During the elution phase current protocols are likely to cause CD34(+) cells to exceed tolerable limits. The addition of a short holding period during elution reduces the likelihood of this occurring.

The effect of temperature on membrane hydraulic conductivity

The objective of this study was to use the temperature dependence of water permeability to suggest the physical mechanisms of water transport across membranes of osmotically slowly responding cells and to demonstrate that insight into water transport mechanisms in these cells may be gained from easily performed experiments using an electronic particle counter. Osmotic responses of V-79W Chinese hamster fibroblast cells were measured in hypertonic solutions at various temperatures and the membrane hydraulic conductivity was determined. The results were fit with the general Arrhenius equation with two free parameters, and also fit with two specific membrane models each having only one free parameter. Data from the literature including that for human bone marrow stem cells, hamster pancreatic islets, and bovine articular cartilage chondrocytes were also examined. The results indicated that the membrane models could be used in conjunction with measured permeability data at different temperatures to investigate the method of water movement across various cell membranes. This approach for slower responding cells challenges the current concept that the presence of aqueous pores is always accompanied by an osmotic water permeability value, P(f)>0.01 cm/s. The possibility of water transport through aqueous pores in lower-permeability cells is proposed.

Osmometric and permeability characteristics of human placental/umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells and their application to cryopreservation

The transplantation of placental/cord blood-derived HPC (e.g., CD34+ cells) has become a useful treatment for a broad spectrum of malignant and nonmalignant diseases. The ability to cryopreserve this cell type with high efficiency adds considerable flexibility to cord blood transplantation. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the fundamental cryobiologic factors of these cells, including the osmotic/permeability characteristics, and to use a theoretical approach to optimize freezing procedures. To that end, biophysical parameters, including the osmotically inactive cell volume (Vb), hydraulic conductivity (Lp), and cryoprotectant permeability coefficient (P(CPA)) for DMSO and propylene glycol were measured using a modified Coulter Counter (Coulter Electronics, Inc., Hialeah, FL) at 22 degrees C. In addition, the osmotic tolerance of PCB CD34+ cells was assessed using a colony-forming assay. These experimentally determined parameters were used in a mathematical model to predict optimal cryoprotectant addition and removal procedures. The results demonstrate a Vb of 0.32 x V(iso), an average Lp of 0.17 +/- 0.03 (microm/min/atm +/- SD), and a PCPA of 0.94 +/- 0.004 or 1.0 +/- 0.004 cm/min (x10(-3)) for DMSO or propylene glycol, respectively. No significant difference was determined between the two cryoprotectants used. The osmotic tolerance limits were determined to be 200 and 600 mOsm/kg (1.29 and 0.62 x V(iso), respectively). These results indicate potential benefits of modifications to the widely used method of Rubinstein et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:10119-10122, 1995) for cord blood CD34+ cell cryopreservation. As opposed to Rubinstein's method in which DMSO is added to cooled cell suspensions over a 15-min interval, our data indicate that better results may be obtained by introducing and removing the cryoprotectant at ambient temperature over 5 min both to increase viability by avoiding unnecessary risks from osmotic shock and to simplify the protocol. In addition, substitution of propylene glycol for DMSO may be of benefit during the actual freezing and thawing process.

Cryobiophysical characteristics of genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells

The freezing responses of hematopoietic progenitor cells isolated from normal donors and from donors with mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) were determined using cryomicroscopy and analyzed using theoretical models for water transport and intracellular ice formation. The cells from donors with MPS I used in this investigation were cultured and transduced with a retroviral vector for the alpha-l-iduronidase (IDUA) enzyme in preclinical studies for human gene therapy. The water transport and intracellular ice formation (IIF) characteristics were determined at different time points in the culture and transduction process for hematopoietic progenitor cells expressing CD34 antigen from donors with MPS I and from normal donors. There were statistically significant changes in water transport, osmotically inactive cell volume fraction, and permeability between cells from different sources (normal donors vs donors with MPSI) and different culture conditions (freshly isolated vs cultured and transduced). Specifically, Lpg and Ea increased after ex vivo culture of the cells and the changes in permeability parameters were observed after as little as 3 days in culture. Similarly, the IIF characteristics of hematopoietic progenitor cells can also be influenced by the culture and transduction process. The IIF characteristics of freshly isolated cells from donors with MPS I were statistically distinct from those of cultured and transduced cells from the same donor. The ability to cryopreserve cells which are cultured ex vivo for therapeutic purposes will require an understanding of the biophysical changes resulting from the culture conditions and the manner in which these changes influence viability.