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Dobruskin M, Toner G, Kander R. Optimizing cryopreservation strategies for scalable cell therapies: A comprehensive review with insights from iPSC-derived therapies. Biotechnol Prog 2024:e3504. [PMID: 39268839 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Off-the-shelf cell therapies hold significant curative potential for conditions, such as Parkinson's disease and heart failure. However, these therapies face unique cryopreservation challenges, especially when novel routes of administration, such as intracerebral or epicardial injection, require cryopreservation media that are safe for direct post-thaw administration. Current practices often involve post-thaw washing to remove dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO), a cytotoxic cryoprotective agent, which complicates the development and clinical translation of off-the-shelf therapies. To overcome these obstacles, there is a critical need to explore Me2SO-free cryopreservation methods. While such methods typically yield suboptimal post-thaw viability with conventional slow-freeze protocols, optimizing freezing profiles offers a promising strategy to enhance their performance. This comprehensive review examines the latest advancements in cryopreservation techniques across various cell therapy platforms, with a specific case study of iPSC-derived therapies used to illustrate the scalability challenges. By identifying key thermodynamic and biochemical phenomena that occur during freezing, this review aims to identify cell-type independent approaches to improve the efficiency and efficacy of cryopreservation strategies, thereby supporting the widespread adoption and clinical success of off-the-shelf cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Dobruskin
- Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing, Thomas Jefferson University, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Geoffrey Toner
- Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing, Thomas Jefferson University, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ronald Kander
- Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing, Thomas Jefferson University, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA
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Moon H, Kim B, Kwon I, Oh Y. Challenges involved in cell therapy for Parkinson's disease using human pluripotent stem cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1288168. [PMID: 37886394 PMCID: PMC10598731 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1288168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurons derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provide a valuable tool for studying human neural development and neurodegenerative diseases. The investigation of hPSC-based cell therapy, involving the differentiation of hPSCs into target cells and their transplantation into affected regions, is of particular interest. One neurodegenerative disease that is being extensively studied for hPSC-based cell therapy is Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common among humans. Various research groups are focused on differentiating hPSCs into ventral midbrain dopaminergic (vmDA) progenitors, which have the potential to further differentiate into neurons closely resembling DA neurons found in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) after transplantation, providing a promising treatment option for PD. In vivo experiments, where hPSC-derived vmDA progenitor cells were transplanted into the striatum or SNpc of animal PD models, the transplanted cells demonstrated stable engraftment and resulted in behavioral recovery in the transplanted animals. Several differentiation protocols have been developed for this specific cell therapy. However, the lack of a reliable live-cell lineage identification method presents a significant obstacle in confirming the precise lineage of the differentiated cells intended for transplantation, as well as identifying potential contamination by non-vmDA progenitors. This deficiency increases the risk of adverse effects such as dyskinesias and tumorigenicity, highlighting the importance of addressing this issue before proceeding with transplantation. Ensuring the differentiation of hPSCs into the target cell lineage is a crucial step to guarantee precise therapeutic effects in cell therapy. To underscore the significance of lineage identification, this review focuses on the differentiation protocols of hPSC-derived vmDA progenitors developed by various research groups for PD treatment. Moreover, in vivo experimental results following transplantation were carefully analyzed. The encouraging outcomes from these experiments demonstrate the potential efficacy and safety of hPSC-derived vmDA progenitors for PD cell therapy. Additionally, the results of clinical trials involving the use of hPSC-derived vmDA progenitors for PD treatment were briefly reviewed, shedding light on the progress and challenges faced in translating this promising therapy into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heechang Moon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bokwang Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Inbeom Kwon
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yohan Oh
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Advanced BioConvergence, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Sheta R, Teixeira M, Idi W, Oueslati A. Optimized protocol for the generation of functional human induced-pluripotent-stem-cell-derived dopaminergic neurons. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102486. [PMID: 37515763 PMCID: PMC10400954 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Generation of functional human dopaminergic (DA) neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is a crucial tool for modeling dopamine-related human diseases and cell replacement therapies. Here, we present a protocol to combine neuralizing transcription factor (NGN2) programming and DA patterning to differentiate hiPSCs into mature and functional induced DA (iDA) neurons. We describe steps from transduction of hiPSCs and neural induction through to differentiation and maturation of near-pure, fully functional iDA neurons within 3 weeks. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Sheta et al. (2022).1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razan Sheta
- CHU de Québec Research Center, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec City, QC, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
| | - Maxime Teixeira
- CHU de Québec Research Center, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec City, QC, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Walid Idi
- CHU de Québec Research Center, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec City, QC, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Abid Oueslati
- CHU de Québec Research Center, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec City, QC, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
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Yeap YJ, Teddy TJW, Lee MJ, Goh M, Lim KL. From 2D to 3D: Development of Monolayer Dopaminergic Neuronal and Midbrain Organoid Cultures for Parkinson's Disease Modeling and Regenerative Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032523. [PMID: 36768843 PMCID: PMC9917335 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized pathologically by the loss of A9-specific dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of the midbrain. Despite intensive research, the etiology of PD is currently unresolved, and the disease remains incurable. This, in part, is due to the lack of an experimental disease model that could faithfully recapitulate the features of human PD. However, the recent advent of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has allowed PD models to be created from patient-derived cells. Indeed, DA neurons from PD patients are now routinely established in many laboratories as monolayers as well as 3D organoid cultures that serve as useful toolboxes for understanding the mechanism underlying PD and also for drug discovery. At the same time, the iPSC technology also provides unprecedented opportunity for autologous cell-based therapy for the PD patient to be performed using the patient's own cells as starting materials. In this review, we provide an update on the molecular processes underpinning the development and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into midbrain DA neurons in both 2D and 3D cultures, as well as the latest advancements in using these cells for drug discovery and regenerative medicine. For the novice entering the field, the cornucopia of differentiation protocols reported for the generation of midbrain DA neurons may seem daunting. Here, we have distilled the essence of the different approaches and summarized the main factors driving DA neuronal differentiation, with the view to provide a useful guide to newcomers who are interested in developing iPSC-based models of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Jie Yeap
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Tng J. W. Teddy
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme (IGP-Neuroscience), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Mok Jung Lee
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Micaela Goh
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Kah Leong Lim
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
- National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore 308433, Singapore
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Anatomy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
- Correspondence:
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Drummond NJ, Singh Dolt K, Canham MA, Kilbride P, Morris GJ, Kunath T. Cryopreservation of Human Midbrain Dopaminergic Neural Progenitor Cells Poised for Neuronal Differentiation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:578907. [PMID: 33224948 PMCID: PMC7674628 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.578907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons by directing cells through a floor plate progenitor stage. The developmental identity of mDA neurons produced using floor plate protocols is similar to substantia nigra neurons, and this has improved the ability to model Parkinson's disease (PD) in a dish. Combined with the unlimited growth potential of pluripotent stem cells, mDA neural progenitor cell production can provide a scalable source of human dopaminergic (DA) neurons for diverse applications. However, due to the complexity and length of the protocols and inherent differences between cell lines, considerable variability of the final population of neurons is often observed. One solution to this problem is to cryopreserve committed mDA neural progenitor cells in a ready-to-use format. Creating a bank of cryopreserved mDA neural progenitor cells poised for neuronal differentiation could significantly improve reproducibility and facilitate collaborations. Here we have compared six (6) different commercial cryopreservation media and different freezing conditions for mDA neural progenitor cells differentiated from human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines. Significant differences in cell recovery were observed at 24 h post-thawing, but no differences were observed immediately upon thawing. The presence of ROCK inhibitors improved cell recovery at 24 h for all cryopreservation media tested. A faster cooling rate of 1-2°C/min was significantly better than 0.5°C/min for all conditions tested, while rapid thawing at 37°C was not always superior to slow thawing at 4°C. Importantly, cryopreservation of mDA neural progenitor cells did not alter their potential to resume differentiation into mDA neurons. Banks of cryopreserved committed mDA neural progenitor cells provide a method to generate human DA neurons with reduced batch-to-batch variability, and establish a mechanism to share lineage-primed cells for collaborative research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola J. Drummond
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Karamjit Singh Dolt
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Maurice A. Canham
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Tilo Kunath
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Tilo Kunath,
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