A simple two-step culture system for the large-scale generation of mature and functional dendritic cells from umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells

BACKGROUND: In vitro generated dendritic cells (DCs) are widely used as adjuvants in cancer immunotherapy. The major sources for DC generation are monocytes and CD34+ cells. CD34+-derived DCs are less frequently used in clinical applications because it requires complex generation methods. Here a simple method for the large-scale generation of mature functional DCs from umbilical cord blood–derived CD34+ cells is described.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: CD34+ cells were first expanded with a combination of early acting growth factors in a medium containing autologous plasma. In the second step the DC precursors were further either enriched by plastic adherence or sorted on a cell sorter and differentiated as DCs. DCs generated by both methods were compared for their morphology, phenotype, and different functional variables.
RESULTS: This culture system provided a large-scale expansion of CD34+ cells giving a mean fold increase of 615. The majority of the expanded cells were interstitial DC precursors, that is, CD14+-positive cells. In vitro generated immature DCs could be matured into functional DCs by appropriate maturation stimuli. DCs generated by the plastic adherence method had a better cytokine profile and strong mixed leukocyte reaction compared to those generated by cell sorting.
CONCLUSION: A two-step culture system provides a large-scale expansion of CD34+ cells with a preferential lineage commitment toward CD14+ cells. Enrichment of these precursors with a simple plastic adherence technique results in generation of large numbers of mature, functional DCs. This method of in vitro DC generation will have applications in cancer immunotherapy.     

A simple cryopreservation method for dendritic cells and cells used in their derivation and functional assessment

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation and storage permitting multiple treatments with single donations is of practical importance to cellular therapies. HES and DMSO, used successfully in simple clinical procedures for freezing marrow and peripheral blood progenitor cells at -80 degrees C, was tested on antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs) and cells used in their derivation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: DCs cultured in serum-free media from adherent or CD14+ apheresis MNCs (n = 36) in the presence of GM-CSF + IL4 +/- TNFalpha were frozen and stored at -80 degrees C in 6-percent HES, 5-percent DMSO, and 4-percent HSA. Apheresis MNCs, CD14+ monocytes, and lymphocytes were similarly frozen and later thawed for culture. Cells were assayed for viability, DC phenotype, mixed lymphocyte reaction, and antigen presentation before and 3, 6, 9, 12 or more months after freezing. RESULTS: DCs retained viability (82 +/- 2.3%) for at least 24 months. Mature and immature phenotype and function were preserved. Thawed MNCs and CD14+ cells differentiated to DCs and lymphocytes maintained high functional viability (92 +/- 3%) comparable to prefreeze levels. CONCLUSION: A simple -80 degrees C freezing and storage method that combines extracellular (HES) and intracellular (DMSO) agents is practical and preserves functional viability of DCs, MNCs, CD14+ monocytes, and lymphocytes.     

双份脐血间CD34^＋细胞与CD3^＋细胞相互作用对分化增殖能力的影响

目的双份脐血移植的植入动力学机制目前尚无定论,推测双份脐血中的淋巴细胞与优势份脐血的产生相关。本实验将双份脐血的CD34^＋细胞与CD3^＋细胞混合培养,观察CD3^＋细胞对CD34^＋细胞的增殖分化有无影响。方法建立液体和半固体培养体系,将免疫磁珠分选纯化的双份脐血间的CD34^＋细胞和CD3^＋细胞混合培养6d和14d。以流式细胞计数观测CD34^＋细胞培养后的分化指标（CD33,CD41,CD71）;计数集落形成单位（GM—CFU、BFU-E、GEMM—CFU）分析CD34^＋细胞的增殖情况。结果液体共培养后各份CD34^＋细胞表面分化指标的变化。脐血CD34^＋细胞分选富集的纯度为（98．70±0．72）％。3d实验组和对照组的各项分化指标无差异（P〉0．05）;6d的CD33、CD71实验组明显低于对照组,而CD41明显高于对照组（P〈0．05）。半固体共培养后CD34^＋细胞增殖能力的变化。实验组的红系集落形成单位（BFU—E）及粒单细胞集落形成单位（GM—CFU）数低于对照组（P〈0．05）,而混合细胞集落形成数（GEMM—CFU）高于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论将两份脐血的CD34^＋细胞和CD3^＋细胞体外混合培养对CD34^＋细胞的增殖分化能力有影响,推测双份脐血间的相互作用可部分地通过CD3^＋细胞介导。     

人胎盘组织来源造血干/祖细胞及其特性

背景:近年来的研究表明,除已知的人骨髓、外周血和脐带血中存在造血干/祖细胞外,人胎盘组织中也有造血干/祖细胞存在.目前为止,还缺乏对人胎盘组织造血干/祖细胞的增殖分化特性及人胎盘组织淋巴细胞亚群组成和免疫原性等的深入研究.目的:探究人胎盘组织是否含有比脐带血更丰富的造血干/祖细胞,并对其造血祖细胞系增殖分化能力进行检测,同时对人胎盘组织淋巴细胞亚群组成及表型特征进行分析.设计、时间及地点:开放性实验,于2004-01/2006-12在贵州省细胞工程重点实验室完成.材料:经产妇知情同意,无菌采集遵义医学院附属医院产科健康足月分娩新生儿胎盘和脐带血共12份.淋巴细胞亚群检测试剂盒,CD34绝对计数试剂盒(Becton Dickinson公司):CD34磁珠分选试剂盒,FITC标记的CD38单克隆抗体,抗FITC磁珠和MS/LS免疫磁式细胞分选柱(Miltenyi Biotec).方法:脐带血与RPMI-1640培养基(含体积分数为0.1的胎牛血清)按1:1的比例混合,采用Ficoll-Histopaque分离液离心30min,吸取界面层细胞,PBS洗涤一次,获得脐带血单个核细胞.采用机械法加0.25g/L胶原酶消化制备胎盘组织单个细胞悬液,之后同脐带血单个核细胞分离步骤分离胎盘单个核细胞.流式细胞仪检测胎盘单个核细胞中CD34 CD38-, CD34 CD38 造血干/祖细胞(HSPCs)和淋巴细胞亚群的组成比例.免疫磁珠分选法分选人胎盘CD34 CD38-,CD34 D38 造血干/祖细胞,并分别进行粒细胞-单核细胞集落生成单位、红细胞爆裂型集落生成单位、混合集落生成单位系集落形成培养,以评价其造血祖细胞系增殖分化能力.实验全程用脐带血作平行比较分析.主要观察指标:胎盘和脐带血CD34 造血干/祖细胞组成百分率、祖细胞系集落形成能力、淋巴细胞亚群表型及组成特点.结果:[1]胎盘CD34 造血干/祖细胞百分率是脐带血的8.8倍,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01).[2]胎盘中的淋巴细胞总数、T细胞(CD3 CD2 )、B细胞(CD19 )、Th(CD3 CD4 )细胞及Th/Ts比值均明显低于脐带血,而CD8 CD28-T抑制细胞则明显高于脐带血,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01).[3]胎盘CD34 CD38 造血干/祖细胞亚群培养形成的粒细胞-单核细胞集落生成单位、红细胞爆裂型集落生成单位、混合集落生成单位集落数明显高于CD34 CD38-造血干/祖细胞亚群(P<0.01);胎盘与脐带血造血干/祖细胞中相同表型细胞亚群形成的各系集落数比较,差异无显著性意义(P0.05).结论:人胎盘组织富含CD34 造血干/祖细胞,其CD34 CD38 、CD34 CD38-两个造血干/祖细胞亚群均具有增殖分化为粒细胞-单核细胞集落生成单位、红细胞爆裂型集落生成单位、混合集落生成单位的能力,并且人胎盘组织具有淋巴细胞亚群低比例和抑制性T细胞高比例的特点,使其有望成为造血干/祖细胞移植的新来源.     

Generation of dendritic cells from adherent cells of cord blood by culture with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-4, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Although dendritic cells (DC) can be cultured from cord blood (CB) CD34+ progenitor cells, the generation of DC from CB monocytes has not been reported. In this paper, we explored the generation of DC from CB monocytes to establish the simplest way to obtain a substantial number of DC from CB. We isolated monocytes from CB mononuclear cells (CB-MNC) by the plastic adherence method. These adherent cells (monocyte-rich cells) were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or in serum-free X-VIVO 15 medium (SFM) for 7 days, both of which contained 100 ng/ml granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and 10 ng/ml interleukin-4 (IL-4) with or without 10 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (added at day 5). In the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4, CB-adherent cells became nonadherent, acquired DC morphology, and showed increased expression of CD1a, CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR; they lost membrane CD14 and some cells with the expression of CD83 and CMRF-44 were generated. With the addition of TNF-alpha to these cultures and culturing for further 2 days, the proportion of CD83+ cells was elevated in both the FBS and SFM culture systems, compared with the culture without TNF-alpha. In the culture with TNF-alpha, cells expressing CD1a, CD80, CD86, HLA-DR, and HLA-DQ were markedly increased. TNF-alpha-treated cells were demonstrated to be stronger stimulators for proliferation of both allogeneic CB lymphocytes and PB lymphocytes than were cells not treated with TNF-alpha. The yield of CD83+ DC at day 7 of cultures was 4.9 +/- 1.1 x 10(5) or 3.0 +/- 0.5 x 10(5) per 1.2 x 10(7) CB-MNC plated initially when cultured in FBS or SFM, respectively. These results have shown that a substantial number of mature DC could be generated from CB-adherent cells even by serum-free culture. We then compared these CB-adherent cell-derived DC (CB-DC) with peripheral blood (PB)-adherent cell-derived DC (PB-DC) in cell-surface phenotype and function. We found day 7 CB-DC have lower expression of CD80, CD1a, CD83, and CMRF-44 than day 7 PB-DC, but CB-DC have a similar capacity to stimulate the proliferation of both allo-CB lymphocytes and PB lymphocytes, compared with PB-DC. CB-DC cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 have almost identical capacity of phagocytosis to take up fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran and Lucifer yellow (LY), compared with PB-DC. In summary, our findings suggest CB adherent cells, when cultured with GM-CSF, IL-4, and TNF-alpha, are a potent source of functional DC. Thus, CB-DC as well as PB-DC may become valuable tools for immunotherapy.     

骨髓基质细胞联合细胞因子对脐血单个核细胞表面抗原表达的影响

背景:课题组已建立胎儿骨髓基质细胞联合细胞因子的造血细胞体外培养体系,该培养体系能否有效扩增各个发育阶段的造血细胞有待验证。目的:观察骨髓基质细胞联合细胞因子培养体系对脐血单个核细胞表面抗原CD133、CD34表达的影响。方法:将从脐血标本中分离出来的单个核细胞接种于无血清培养体系,实验分为3组:①F组:干细胞因子+Flt3配体+促血小板生成素+单个核细胞。②S组:基质细胞+单个核细胞。③SF组:基质细胞+干细胞因子+Flt3配体+促血小板生成素+单个核细胞。在第0,6,10,14天检测有核细胞总数、CD133+、CD34+、CD133+CD34+细胞数以及集落形成单位数。结果与结论:SF组有核细胞总数在各个检测时间点均比其他两组高;除了第14天外,第6、10天两个时间点SF组中CD133+、CD34+、CD133+CD34+细胞及集落形成单位数均高于其他组;含骨髓基质细胞的S组和SF组中CD133+细胞/有核细胞、CD34+细胞/有核细胞、CD133+CD34+细胞/有核细胞的比例保持在较高的水平。结果说明骨髓基质细胞联合细胞因子能有效的扩增脐血单个核细胞及其中的CD133+、CD34+、CD133+CD34+细胞,基质细胞对维持造血干细胞的原始性具有重要的作用。     

脐血造血干/祖细胞免疫表型的流式细胞术双标法分析及其意义

目的比较脐血和骨髓中造血干/祖细胞(HSPC)的免疫表型差异.方法使用流式细胞术(FCM)双标法对38份脐血及10份骨髓HSPC进行免疫表型分析.结果①脐血有核细胞中CD34+细胞所占比例与骨髓中相近,约为0.5%;②脐血CD34+细胞中CD34+CD38-[(17.C4±5.37)%]、CD34+HLA-DR-[(32.65±10.71)%]及CD34+H-CAM+(CD44+)[(77.84±7.69)%]亚群含量均高于骨髓[含量分别为(8.26±3.19)%、(14.05±1.67)%和(70.02±6.40)%],CD34+CD13+、CD34+CD19+亚群比例低于骨髓.结论脐血与骨髓CD34+细胞比例相近,但前者较原始的干细胞含量更高,故脐血是极具潜力的HSPC来源;而脐血CD34+细胞中髓系及淋系祖细胞含量低于骨髓,可能是脐血移植后造血及免疫重建缓慢的原因之一.     

High level of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into dendritic cells derived from cord blood and mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cells

Dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells, can be generated from CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and used for generating therapeutic immune responses. To develop immunotherapy protocols based on genetically modified DCs, we have investigated the conditions for high-level transduction of a large amount of CD34+-derived DCs. Thus, we have used an efficient and clinically applicable protocol for the retroviral transduction of cord blood (CB) or mobilized peripheral blood (MPB) CD34+ cells based on infection with gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV)-pseudotyped retroviral vectors carrying the nls-LacZ reporter gene. Infected cells have been subsequently cultured under conditions allowing their dendritic differentiation. The results show that using a growth factor combination including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus tumor necrosis factor alpha plus interleukin 4 plus stem cell factor plus Flt3 ligand, more than 70% of DCs derived from CB or MPB CD34+ cells can be transduced. Semiquantitative PCR indicates that at least two proviral copies per cell were detected. Transduced DCs retain normal immunophenotype and potent T cell stimulatory capacity. Finally, by using a semisolid methylcellulose assay for dendritic progenitors (CFU-DCs), we show that more than 90% of CFU-DCs can be transduced. Such a highly efficient retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into CD34+-derived DCs makes it possible to envision the use of this methodology in clinical trials.     

脐血来源树突状细胞的体外诱导及扩增

本研究的目的是分析脐血的细胞组成 ,研究加入细胞因子培养前后脐血树突状细胞的变化 ,探索体外诱导、扩增树突状细胞的方法并进行表型鉴定。选择正常成人外周血 9份 ,脐血 12份 ,分离单个核细胞。在脐血单个核细胞中加入细胞因子GM CSF、IL 3、SCF和EPO ,培养 4周。应用流式细胞仪和CD4、CD8、CD19、CD34、CD38、CD1a、CD11c及CDw12 3单克隆抗体测定正常成人外周血、培养前后 1,2 ,3,4周脐血细胞表面抗原及树突状细胞情况。结果表明 :正常成人外周血CD34 细胞 0 .0 2× 10 5 ml,CD1a 细胞 0 .0 1× 10 5 ml,CD11c 细胞 4 .32×10 5 ml,CD83 细胞 1.31× 10 5 ml,CDw12 3 细胞 1.4 1× 10 5 ml。新鲜脐血中CD34 细胞 0 .2 2× 10 5 ml,CD1a 细胞 0 .2 7× 10 5 ml,CD11c 细胞 5 .87× 10 5 ml,CD83 细胞 1.94× 10 5 ml,CDw12 3 细胞 2 .73× 10 5 ml。加入细胞因子GM CSF ,IL 3,SCF ,EPO后培养 1- 4周的脐血单个核细胞分化为CD1a ,CD11c ,CD83 ,CDw12 3 树突状细胞 ,在培养的 2 - 4周 ,脐血树突状细胞数量明显增多 ,此后逐渐减少。通过培养 ,树突状细胞数量增加 ,CD1a 细胞达 11.0 2× 10 5 ml,CD11c 细胞 2 8.2 4× 10 5 ml,CD83 细胞 10 .5 7× 10 5 ml,CDw12 3 细胞 18.7× 10 5     

人骨髓基质细胞支持脐血造血细胞扩增后脐血归巢相关特性变化的研究

目的探讨人骨髓基质细胞（HBMSC）联合细胞因子对脐血（CB）单个核细胞（MNC）体外培养后造血细胞归巢相关特性的变化以评价HBMSC及细胞因子支持的体外扩增对脐血归巢相关功能的影响。方法将从新鲜CB标本中分离出的MNC分别接种于已建立的无血清培养体系：A组：对照组；B组：单用HBMSC支持；C组：单用细胞因子支持；D组：细胞因子和HBMSC联合支持。分别在0d（d0）、10d（d10）及14d（d14）用流式细胞仪检测CD34^＋CXCR4细胞、CD34^＋VLA-4^＋细胞的变化情况。结果①在体外培养过程中，各时间点D组CD34^＋CXCR4^＋细胞扩增倍数均高于A、B、C组（P〈0.05）；②B、C和D组与A组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论HBMSC联合外源性细胞因子对脐血MNC进行体外培养，能有效扩增具归巢能力的造血干祖细胞数目。     

肿瘤坏死因子α和白细胞介素4对脐血CD34+造血干细胞来源的树突状细胞体外培养体系的影响

背景：造血干细胞是构筑免疫系统的最早的细胞，能分化为多种细胞，其中具有包括免疫应答调控树突状细胞。树突状细胞的诱导培养因前体细胞来源不同，所采用的细胞因子，及最佳的细胞因子配伍、应用顺序、实验室培养条件亦不相同，树突状细胞的发育、各种表型的表达及成熟度也不尽相同。目的：观察肿瘤坏死因子α和白细胞介素4对脐血CD34＋造血干细胞来源的树突状细胞诱导培养体系的影响，探寻该培养体系优化方法。设计、时间及地点：观察性实验，于2005—03／11在南京医科大学微生物与免疫学实验室完成。材料：健康新生儿脐血为南京市八一医院产妇同意捐赠。CD34单克隆抗体-磁珠分离系统为德国MiltenyiBiotec公司产品；重组人粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（GM—CSF）、重组人白细胞介素4和重组人肿瘤坏死因子α为美国PeproTech公司产品。方法：淋巴细胞分离液分离获得脐血单个核细胞，免疫磁珠阳性分选CD34＋造血干细胞，并用流式细胞术鉴定CD34＋造血干细胞纯度；比较GT（GM-CSF＋肿瘤坏死因子α）方案和GTI（GM-CSF＋肿瘤坏死因子α＋白细胞介素4）方案及GTI方案中肿瘤坏死因子α和白细胞介素4不同时段加入对诱导培养产生的树突状细胞成熟的影响；通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察细胞形态，流式细胞仪分析细胞表型及3H-TdR检测树突状细胞激发异体T细胞增殖能力。结果：免疫磁珠阳性分选CD34＋造血干细胞纯度可达90％以上。将CD34＋造血干细胞按GT方案和GTI方案进行培养，均可诱导产生树突状细胞，CD34的阳性表达率逐渐下降，HLA-DR的表达下降（P〈0．05），树突状细胞的相关分化抗原CD80，CD86，CD83和CDla的表达均相应增加，培养13～15d的细胞各表型表达较7-9d，10～12d充分。但经GT方案诱导的树突状细胞CD14表达较高，CD80，CD86，CD83，CD1α表达不如经GTI方案诱导的高；而GTI方案中，以肿瘤坏死因子Q0h、白细胞介素448h加入诱导培养的树突状细胞各表型表达相对较佳，其细胞表达CD80，CD86均较其他组高，尤以CD86表达为著，并具有激发异体T细胞增殖能力。结论：CD34＋造血干细胞经过合适的培养体系能够诱导分化为功能性树突状细胞，以GM-CSF与肿瘤坏死因子α0h加入、白细胞介素448h加入的GM-CSF＋肿瘤坏死因子α＋白细胞介素4方案更为可取。     

Dextran sedimentation in a semi-closed system for the clinical banking of umbilical cord blood

BACKGROUND: The results of current processing procedures for reducing volume and recovering HPCs from umbilical cord blood (UCB) before cryopreservation vary. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Dextran was added to bags containing UCB, followed by sedimentation for 30 minutes. The processed UCB was then frozen. RBCs, nucleated cells, MNCs, CD34+ cells, CFUs and long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs), viability, and sterility were evaluated. Fractionations in ficoll-hypaque and hydroxyethyl starch (HES) were also run in parallel for comparison. RESULTS: The nucleated cell (NC) recovery and RBC depletion were 86.1 percent and 94.3 percent, respectively (n = 50). Sedimentation with dextran also enabled the recovery of 80.7 percent MNCs and 82.6 percent CD34+ cells (n = 30). Postsedimentation samples displayed no impairment of CFU growth (n = 42, 108.7% CFU-C, 104.6% CFU-GEMM, 107% CFU-GM, and 95.7% BFU-E). Long-term cultures on five paired samples before and after sedimentation generated similar numbers of CFU-C each week (p = 0.88). Limiting dilution analysis of 12 paired pre/postsedimentation samples showed comparable median proportions of LTC-ICs (1/6494 vs. 1/5236; p = 0.18). The cell viability of 24 samples of thawed UCB after sedimentation was 90.3 percent (77.5-96%) and the recovery of CFU-C, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, and BFU-E of 11 postsedimentation samples was 93.4 percent, 84.9 percent, 92.3 percent, and 83.4 percent, respectively. NC recovery was significantly higher after treatment with dextran than with ficoll-hypaque (n = 30; 88.5% vs. 29.1%; p<0.005) and HES treatment (n = 21; 88.5% vs. 76.4%; p = 0.004). However, MNCs, CD34+ cells, CFUs, LTC-ICs, and RBCs were comparable. Two cycles of dextran sedimentation recovered 93.9 percent of NCs with cell viability of 98.6 percent (96.5-100%), whereas 11.7 percent of RBCs were retained (n = 20). The final yield volume was 33.5 (28-41) mL. CONCLUSION: In a semi-closed system, dextran sedimentation enabled volume reduction of UCB without significant quantitative and qualitative losses of HPCs.     

Dendritic cells generated from CD34+ progenitor cells with flt3 ligand, c-kit ligand, GM-CSF, IL-4, and TNF-alpha are functional antigen-presenting cells resembling mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are powerful antigen-presenting cells. Because DCs are rare cells, methods to produce them in vitro are valuable ways to study their biologic properties and to generate cells for immunotherapy. This study defines the antigen-presenting properties of DCs generated in vitro from CD34+ cells of patients with breast cancer. The combination of cytokines flt3 ligand + c-kit ligand + granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) + interleukin-4 (IL-4) + tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was used to maximize the output of mature DCs in the culture of CD34+ cells while minimizing the production of monocytes. Cells grew and differentiated into DCs as measured by a time-dependent upregulation of cell surface antigens major histocompatibility complex class II, CD1a, CD80, CD86, CD40, and CD4, so that 40% +/- 9% (n = 6) of cells in culture at day 15 were CD1a+CD14-. Markers were acquired in the same sequence as on monocytes induced to differentiate with GM-CSF + IL-4. Differentiation was marked by a time-dependent increase in allostimulatory function, which, at its peak, was more potent than in cultures of DCs generated from monocytes with GM-CSF + IL-4, but was comparable on a cell-to-cell basis to that of mature monocytes cultured in flt3-ligand + c-kit-ligand + GM-CSF + IL-4 + TNF-alpha. Both CD34+ cell-derived and monocyte-derived DCs were able to process and to present tetanus toxoid and keyhole limpet hemocyanin to autologous T cells and to present major histocompatibility class I-binding peptides to CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes inducing interferon-gamma production. Altogether, these results suggest that DCs generated from CD34+ cells of patients with breast cancer with flt3 ligand, c-kit ligand, GM-CSF, IL-4, and TNF-alpha are competent antigen-presenting cells, particularly for CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and resemble mature monocyte-derived DCs in the assays described here.     

SCID-repopulating activity of human umbilical cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells in a nonobese diabetic/Shi-SCID mice serial xenotransplantation model and immune cell activities in vitro: a comparative study of the filter method and the hydroxyethyl starch method

BACKGROUND: A novel filter system was developed for umbilical cord blood (UCB) volume reduction. The aim of this study was to compare the functions of cryopreserved UCB cells processed by the filter and by the hydroxyethyl starch (HES) sedimentation method from the aspect of the graft quality. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: UCB specimens were divided into two portions, processed in parallel by the filter or HES, and then cryopreserved in the clinical setting. The thawed UCB specimens containing 1 x 10(5) CD34+ cells were injected into nonobese diabetic/Shi-SCID mice, and the engraftment capacity in primary and secondary transplants was assessed. The functions of natural killer (NK) cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were also assayed in vitro. RESULTS: The percentage of recovery of CD34+ cells by both methods was equivalent. In the marrow of the primary transplant recipients, the percentage of hCD45+ cells in the filter group and HES group was 58.2 +/- 31.6 and 46.5 +/- 28.4 percent, respectively (p = 0.016). The engraftment capacity and multilineage differentiation in the secondary transplantations were equal in both groups. The cytotoxic activity of the NK cells and phagocytosis activity of the DCs from both the groups were similar. CONCLUSION: The filter yielded a desirable percentage of recovery of hematopoietic cells with engraftment ability in the clinical setting. Thus, it is considered that the filter system may be useful for UCB banking for cord blood transplantation.     

致敏的脐血源树突状细胞诱导CTL特异杀伤白血病细胞的实验研究

探讨脐血单个核细胞（MNC）诱导的树突状细胞（DC）通过负载冻融的HL-60、K562细胞抗原体外诱导产生细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（CTL）对HL-60、K562的杀伤作用。取脐血12份,分离MNC。在MNC中加入细胞因子GM-CSF（granulocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor）、IL-3（interleukin 3）、SCF（stemcell factor）和EPO培养4周。使用CD83、CD1a、CD11C和CDw123单克隆抗体、流式细胞仪测定培养前后脐血DC抗原变化及扩增情况。DC通过负载HL-60、K-562白血病细胞抗原致敏T淋巴细胞产生CTL^3H-TdR掺入试验测定DC免疫刺激活性,MTT法观察CTL对HL-60、K562细胞的特异性杀伤活性。结果表明：新鲜脐血CD1a^＋、CD11c^＋、CD83^＋、CDw123^＋细胞数分别为0．27×10^5／ml、5．87×10^5／ml、1．94×10^5／ml、2．73×10^5／ml。加入上述细胞因子培养的脐血MNC分化为CD1a^＋、CD11C^＋、CD83^＋、CDw123^＋DC,经培养2—4周,DC数明显增多,分别达11．02×10^5／ml、28．24×10^5／ml、10．57×10^5／ml、18．7×10^5／ml,此后逐渐减少。细胞因子诱导脐血DC具有免疫刺激活性,且DC与CBMNC细胞比例为1：40时的刺激活性最佳。冻融法得到的HL-60、K562白血病细胞抗原致敏DC诱导的CTL对HL-60、K562细胞的杀伤率分别为（42．04±8．46）％和（31．25±11．07）％,与实验组比较有显著性差异（P〈0．01）。结论：加入细胞因子GM—CSF、IL-3、SCF和EPO培养2-4周的脐血MNC可分化为cD1a^＋、CD11C^＋、CD83^＋、CDw123^＋DC。冻融法得到的HL-60、K562白血病细胞抗原致敏DC,其诱导的CTL对HL-60、K562细胞具有特异的杀伤作用。脐血DC作为抗原呈递细胞在肿瘤免疫治疗上将起到重要作用。     

Ex vivo expansion of CD34+ umbilical cord blood cells in a defined serum-free medium (QBSF-60) with early effect cytokines

To investigate the clinically applicable conditions that support substantial expansion of both primitive and more mature hematopoietic cells of umbilical cord blood (UCB) for transplantation in adults, enriched CD34+ cells from 8 fresh UCB samples and 4 expanded UCB products were cultured in defined serum-free medium (QBSF-60) in the presence of a cytokine combination of SCF, Flt-3-ligand (FL), thrombopoietin (TPO), IL-3 for up to 2 weeks. Fresh medium with cytokines was supplemented or exchanged at day 4, day 7, and day 10. The proliferative response was assessed at day 7, day 10, and day 14 by evaluating the following parameters: nucleated cell (NC), clonogenic progenitors (colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage [CFU-GM], burst-forming unit-erythrocyte [BFU-E], CFU-GEMM, and high-proliferative potential colony-forming cell [HPP-CFC]), immunophenotypes (CD34+ cells and CD34+ subpopulations), and LTCIC. Simultaneously numerical expansion of various stem/progenitor cells, including primitive CD34+CD38-HLA-DR- subpopulation and LTCIC, CD34+ cells, and clonogenic progenitors to mature nucleated cells, were continuously observed during the culture. An average 103.32 +/- 71.37 x 10(6) CD34+ cells (range 10.12 x 10(6)-317.9 x 10(6)) could be obtained from initial 1.72 +/- 1.13 x 10(6) UCB CD34+ cells after 10-14 days cultured under the described conditions. Sufficient CD34+ cells (>50.0 x 10(6)) for transplantation in adults would be available in all but one UCB collections after 10-14 days expansion. The expanded CD34+ cells sustained most of the in vitro characteristics of initial unmanipulated CD34+ cells, including clonogenic efficiency (of both primitive and committed progenitors), the proportion of CD34+CD38-HLA-DR- subpopulation, and the expansion potential. Initial addition of IL-3 to the cocktail of SCF + FL + TPO had positive effects on the expansion of both primitive and, especially, the more mature hematopoietic cells. It accelerated the expansion speed and shortened the optimal culture time from 14 days to 10 days. These results indicated that our proposed short-term culture system, consisting of QBSF-60 serum-free medium with a simple early acting cytokine combination of SCF + FL + TPO, could substantially support simultaneous expansion of various stem/progenitor cell populations involved in the different phases of engraftment. It would be a clinically applicable protocol for ex vivo expansion of CD34+ UCB cells.     

Studies on the committed differentiation of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells]

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the capacity of different hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) combinations for inducing CD34+ cells to proliferate and differentiate committedly to granulocytes, erythrocytes, megakaryocytes and dendritic cells (DC). METHODS: CD34+ cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood by using a high-gradient magnetic cell sorting system (MACS), and expanded with HGFs in a liquid culture system. Colony forming cells and antigen expression were studied by colony forming assays and FACS. RESULTS: Different combinations of HGFs, including SCF, IL-3, IL-6, GM-CSF, Epo and Tpo increased BFU-E, CFU-GM, CFU-MK and CD41a+ cells by 14.97 +/- 2.89 fold, 14.46 +/- 3.19 fold, 34.67 +/- 4.62 fold and 17.29 +/- 2.34 fold, respectively. Combination of HGFs allowed generation of a large number of DCs. Cultures of CD34+ cells with the combination of FLT-3 ligand + GM-CSF + IL-4 + TNF-alpha yielded 24.28% +/- 2.14% CD1a+ cells, while the control cultures did not. CONCLUSION: It is possible to induce CD34+ cells to proliferate and differentiate committedly to different lineage of hematopoietic cells and DC.     

Whole-blood leuko-depletion filters as a source of CD 34+ progenitors potentially usable in cell therapy

BACKGROUND: Used leuko-depletion filters (LDFs), containing billions of white blood cells (WBCs), are discarded. Because the steady-state blood contains low quantities of stem and progenitor cells that are retained in LDFs, the viability and the functional properties of mononuclear cells (MNCs) and CD 34+ cells recovered from LDFs were investigated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: WBCs were recovered from LDFs by use of a closed system. MNCs and CD 34+ cells were isolated from freshly LDF-recovered WBCs or after their overnight incubation. The CD 34+ cells were enumerated, as well as the number of colony-forming unit (CFU)-granulocyte-macrophage, burst-forming unit-erythroid, and CFU-Mixed. The expansion in clinical-scale volume cultures (serum-free medium plus stem cell factor, granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, and megakaryocyte growth and development factor) was performed starting from MNCs, freshly isolated CD 34+ cells, and CD 34+ cells isolated after overnight incubation of WBCs. The erythroid, megakaryocytic, eosinophilic, and monocyte-myelocytic lineage differentiation of LDF-recovered CD 34+ cells was challenged in liquid cultures by adding relevant cytokines. RESULTS: Nearly 450 x 10(3) viable CD 34+ cells were recovered per LDF. These cells exhibit unimpaired colony-forming ability. It is possible to expand these cells ex vivo, but their response to cytokines is different compared to mobilized peripheral blood and cord blood CD 34+ cells. Thus, further work is necessary to optimize their ex vivo expansion. These cells give rise to the mature cells and precursors of erythroid, megakaryocytic, eosinophilic, and monomyelocytic lineage in liquid cultures. CONCLUSION: MNCs and CD 34+ cells recovered from the LDFs exhibit unimpaired functional capacities. Recent development of ex vivo technologies for expansion, retro-differentiation, and differentiation reinforces the value in cell therapy of these LDG-recovered peripheral blood progenitor cells that are routinely discarded.     

脐血间充质干细胞的生物学特征及其对造血干/祖细胞体外扩增的支持作用

目的探讨脐血间充质干细胞(MSC)的生物学特征及其对造血干/祖细胞体外扩增的支持作用。方法用液体培养法分离脐血贴壁细胞,采用ELISA方法检测贴壁细胞条件培养液中细胞因子的表达;用流式细胞术分析其免疫表型特征;在成软骨细胞诱导培养条件下诱导细胞分化,并用RTPCR方法检测分化后细胞原胶原Ⅱ型基因的表达。采用分阶段共培养方法观察脐血贴壁细胞对CD34+细胞体外扩增的支持作用。结果脐血单个核细胞纤维样细胞集落形成率为(3.5±0.7)/106。脐血MSC体外至少可以扩增15代。没有分化的脐血MSC表型为CD13、CD29、CD90、CD105、CD166、SH2、SH3和SH4阳性,CD45、CD34和CD14阴性;脐血MSC培养上清中干细胞因子、IL6和肿瘤坏死因子α检测阳性。在成软骨细胞诱导培养基培养条件下,脐血MSC原胶原Ⅱ型基因mRNA表达阳性。脐血MSC与CD34+细胞共掊养14d,CD34+细胞扩增率高于未共培养组4倍。结论脐血MSC具有类似于成体骨髓MSC的特征,对造血干细胞增殖有明显的支持作用。     

两步法扩增诱导脐血及动员外周血CD34+细胞来源树突状细胞的比较

为了比较先扩增、后诱导的两步法从脐血(CB)CD34+细胞和动员外周血(MPB)CD34+细胞诱导所得DC的产量及功能,将免疫磁珠分选获得的CB-CD34+细胞和MPB-CD34+细胞用FL、TPO、SCF、GM-CSF等细胞因子先扩增10天,然后加入GM-CSF、IL-4及TNF-α、CD40Ab、PGE2等细胞因子组合诱导获得DC.采用流式细胞仪检测DC表型,混合淋巴细胞培养检测DC刺激异基因T细胞增殖能力,ELISA法检测DC分泌IL-12能力,Transwell板检测DC在次级淋巴组织趋化因子(SLC)介导下的趋化功能.结果表明 ①扩增10天时CB组、MPB组细胞中CD14+CD1a-细胞含量无显著差异[(40.48±16.85)% vs (28.07±23.19)%, P＞0.05].但由于CB组细胞扩增倍数显著高于MPB组(388.88±84.63倍vs 79.67±10.32倍, P＜0.01),CB组CD14+CD1a-细胞扩增倍数显著高于MPB组(189.42±25.02倍vs 28.74±23.27倍, P＜0.01); ②TNF-α/CD40Ab/PGE2条件下与TNF-α条件下相比,CB组和MPB组所得DC均表达更高的CD83[分别为(34.52±11.22)% vs (3.70±2.27)%、(36.69±13.36)% vs (7.34±3.364)%, P均＜0.01]; ③CB组与MPB组在TNF-α/CD40Ab/PGE2诱导条件下所得DC均高水平表达CD83、CD86、HLA-DR、CD11c、CD54、CD40,CB组所得CD83+细胞的扩增倍数显著高于MPB组(198.72±117.53倍vs 33.95±6.19倍,P＜0.01); ④CD40Ab/PGE2/TNF-α条件下CB与MPB来源的DC在刺激异基因T细胞增殖、IL-12的分泌[(16.2±4.31)pg/ml vs (13.5±4.1)pg/ml]以及SLC介导的迁移率[(28.09±7.76)% vs (18.5±3.47)%]上均无显著差别(P均＞0.05).结论 在两步法培养体系下,CB-CD34+细胞与MPB-CD34+细胞来源的DC具有相同的功能,而前者产量显著高于后者.