Serial transplantations in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice of transduced human CD34+ cord blood cells: efficient oncoretroviral gene transfer and ex vivo expansion under serum-free conditions

Effects of encapsulated rabbit mesenchymal stem cells on ex vivo expansion of human umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

The expansion of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB MNCs) was investigated in a novel co-culture system by means of encapsulation of rabbit bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in alginate beads (Alg beads). Three kinds of media were applied and the experiments lasted for 7 days. The total nucleated cell density was measured every 24 h. Flow cytometric assay for CD34(+) cells and methylcellulose colony assays were carried out at 0, 72 and 168 h. It was found that the encapsulated MSCs illustrated remarkable effects on UCB MNCs expansion regardless of whether serum is present in culture media or not. At the end of 168 h co-culture, the total nucleated cell number was multiplied by 15 +/- 2.9 times, and CD34(+) cells 5.3 +/- 0.3 times and colony-forming units in culture (CFU-Cs) 5.6 +/- 1.2 times in the serum-free media supplemented with conventional dose of cytokines, which was very similar to the results in the containing 20% serum media. While in the control, i.e. MNC expansion without encapsulated MSCs, however, total nucleated cells density changed mildly, CD34(+) cells and CFU-Cs showed little effective expansion. It is demonstrated that the encapsulated stromal cells can support the expansion of UCB MNCs effectively under the experimental condition.

Stem cell and cellular therapy developments

Recent discoveries on human and non-human stem cells have prompted the development of several studies aimed at the translation of laboratory evidences into novel clinical procedures collectively known as 'cellular therapy'. In this regard, a number of features specifically related to the clinical setting require stringent evaluation, including, but not limited to: ethical appropriateness; donor and recipient informed consent; autologous versus allogeneic use; media and devices for cell collection, processing, characterization, storage and distribution; donor and recipient adverse events registration and management; risk-to-benefit and cost analysis; outcome analysis; production sites accreditation and management; regulatory oversight. This article describes recent national and international developments related to the distribution of cells and tissues for clinical use. Moreover, an example is reported of the implementation of a cellular therapy production site compliant with good manufacturing practices (GMPs) in a large European University hospital.

Development of a biological resource center for cellular therapy and biobanking in a public polyclinic university hospital

A model of a university hospital facility for biobanking and clinical grade cell manipulation is described. The facility is based on the model of the Biological Resource Center described by the Organisation for the Economic Cooperation and Development in 1999. This model integrates several critical aspects of collection, characterization, storage and use of biological materials for research purposes and therapeutic applications, thus providing potential advantages of optimizing the use of resources, improving standardization, protecting the rights of both donors and recipients of biological materials, and facilitating international cooperation.