Ex vivo expansion of apheresis-derived peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitors

Because the administration of hematopoietic growth factors and the use of stem cell support often fails to alleviate the neutropenic phase induced by cytotoxic drugs, several investigators have attempted to expand ex vivo hematopoietic progenitors for clinical use. These attempts have clearly shown that the cultured cells are functional and can be safely administered to patients, but that the in vivo performance is disappointing and the concept as a whole is not yet clinically useful. The major reasons for these unsuccessful attempts are thought to be cumbersome cell fractionation techniques, contamination, prolonged incubation, and the use of less than ideal cytokine combinations. In response, we have developed a simple procedure for ex vivo expansion of myeloid progenitor cells. In this assay, unfractionated mononuclear cells from apheresis donors are incubated in nonpyrogenic plastic bags for 7 days in the presence of culture medium either containing fetal calf serum or human plasma, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and stem cell factor. We have demonstrated that under these conditions the number of colony-forming units (CFU) granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and of CFU-granulocyte-macrophage-erythroid-megakaryocyte (CFU-GEMM) increased 7- and 9-fold, respectively, by day 7 and the number of burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E) increased 2.7-fold by day 5 of culture. Significant increases in the numbers of cells expressing CD34+, CD34+/CD38+, CD34+/CD33+, CD34+/CD15+, and CD34+/CD90+ and significant declines in the numbers of cells expressing CD34+/CD38- and CD19 surface antigens were also observed. The relative numbers of cells expressing T-cell markers and CD56 surface antigen did not change. By using different concentrations of various hematopoietic growth factor combinations, we can increase the number of mature and immature cells of different hematopoietic lineages.     

两步法脐血巨核细胞体外扩增的研究

目的探寻一种通过脐血单个核细胞体外培养获得大量巨核细胞的方法。方法首先将脐血单个核细胞在无血清培养液中加入TPO、SCF、IL-6、IL-3培养至14d行巨核祖细胞体外扩增,然后单纯加入TPO、IL-6再培养4d诱导巨核细胞成熟。结果单个核细胞数扩增了约4.8倍,CD41+细胞扩增了44倍,有核细胞形态学分析50%~74%为巨核细胞,巨核细胞中94%~96%为颗粒及产板型巨核细胞,绝大部分呈“核浆发育不平衡、胞核发育延迟”现象。结论使用这种两步培养法在体外可获取大量的脐血来源的巨核细胞以供研究使用。     

Influence of medium components on ex vivo megakaryocyte expansion

Reinfusion of ex vivo-expanded autologous megakaryocytes together with a stem cell transplantation may be useful to prevent or reduce the period of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. In this study, we analyzed several serum-containing and serum-free media to identify the most suitable medium for megakaryocyte expansion. Moreover, two thrombopoietin (Tpo)-mimetic peptides were tested to evaluate whether they could replace Tpo in an expansion protocol. To analyze the effects of different media on megakaryocyte expansion, we used an in vitro liquid culture system. For this purpose, CD34(+) cells were isolated from peripheral blood and cultured for 8 days in the presence of Tpo and interleukin-3 (IL-3). The presence of megakaryocytes was analyzed by flow cytometric analysis after staining for CD41 expression. For our standard culture procedure, megakaryocyte medium (MK medium) supplemented with 10% AB plasma was used. Addition of 5% or 2.5% AB plasma yielded higher numbers of megakaryocytes, implying the presence of inhibitory factors in plasma. However, some plasma components are required for optimal megakaryocyte expansion because addition of less than 1% AB plasma or addition of human serum albumin instead of AB plasma resulted in the formation of lower numbers of megakaryocytes. Two commercially available serum-free media were also tested: Cellgro and Stemspan. If CD34(+) cells were cultured in Cellgro medium similar numbers of megakaryocytes were obtained as when CD34(+) cells were cultured in MK medium supplemented with 10% AB plasma. In MK medium with 2.5% AB plasma, higher numbers of megakaryocytes were cultured than in MK medium supplemented with 10% AB plasma. Therefore, Cellgro medium is not the best alternative medium. In cultures with Stemspan medium, higher numbers of megakaryocytes were obtained compared to MK medium with 10% AB plasma. Stemspan is thus a good alternative for MK medium. Two Tpo-mimetic peptides, AF13948 and PK1M, were tested for their ability to replace Tpo. In cultures with AF13948, comparable numbers of megakaryocytes were obtained as in the presence of Tpo, but in cultures with PK1M the number of megakaryocytes was lower. This study shows that high concentrations of plasma in medium inhibits megakaryocyte formation, but some plasma components are required for optimal megakaryocyte expansion. For an ex vivo expansion protocol, it is worthwhile to test several media, because the number of megakaryocytes differs widely with the medium used.     

Ex vivo expansion of human hematopoietic progenitors and cells to support high-dose chemoradiation therapy: five years of clinical experience

The identification of cytokines-soluble or membrane-bound regulators of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation - and the definition of culture conditions that enable cell and progenitor expansion, has lead to the first clinical trials using cultured cells in addition to or in place of unmanipulated cells. The use of ex vivo expanded cells can improve several aspects of autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell and progenitor transplantation, such as reducing or abolishing the nadir that follows high-dose chemoradiation therapy regimens, or reducing the clinical risks associated with the use of small numbers of progenitors as in cord blood transplantation and in autologous transplantation for poor mobilizers. In addition, biological questions raised by ex vivo expansion are shared by scientists and clinicians interested in gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells. We here review the biological problems associated with ex vivo expansion: defining efficient culture conditions, considering not only scientific and biological issues but also regulatory and commercial issues, defining appropriate surrogate endpoints that predict engraftment and superior clinical efficacy to that obtained with the use of unmanipulated grafts. We also review the results of the first clinical trials that have demonstrated the feasibilty of this approach, and have shown some of its limitations; demonstration of clinical efficacy will require more preclinical and clinical work.     

Ex vivo expansion and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells are phenotypically very heterogeneous, probably reflecting the degree of activation and/or differentiation. This cell population is capable of high-level proliferative activity and multilineage differentiation. Despite its potential for self-renewal, the hematopoietic stem cell exists in a quiescent state for prolonged periods of time. The mechanism(s) involved in triggering these cells to enter the cell cycle is/are not totally clear; however, cytokines (both positive and negative regulators) are implicated. Most, if not all known cytokines that interact at the stem cell level do so not only by inducing proliferation but also differentiation. The ability to maintain a population of truly primitive stem cells for extended periods of time in vitro is currently under investigation by many research groups.     

Ex vivo expansion of human umbilical cord blood-derived T-lymphocytes with homologous cord blood plasma

This study was designed to establish a more effective and safe culture system for adoptive immunotherapy by investigating the use of homologous cord blood plasma (HCBP) instead of fetal bovine serum (FBS), which has various limitations including ethical problems for the ex vivo expansion of human umbilical T lymphocytes. Fresh human umbilical mononuclear cell fractions were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque density centrifugation. Nonadherent mononuclear cell fractions were cultured with anti-CD3 antibody (5 microg/ml), IL-2 (175 U/ml), and either 10% FBS or 10% HCBP. On day 8, the cellular proliferation rate and cell surface markers were assessed. There was no significant difference in proliferation when human umbilical cord blood T lymphocytes were grown in medium supplemented with FBS or HCBP (p > 0.05). In medium containing FBS, the proportion of CD3(+)CD4(+) (markers for helper T cell), CD3(+)CD8(+) (cytotoxic T cell), CD3(+)CD25(+) (activated T cell), CD3(+)CD38(+) (immature T cell), and CD3(+)CD45RO(+) (memory T cell) cells was significantly increased (p < 0.05), whereas proportion of CD3(+)CD45RA(+) (naive T cell) and CD16(+)CD56(+) (NK cell) cells was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In HCBP supplemented medium, the proportion of CD3(+)CD8(+), CD3(+)CD25(+), CD3(+)CD45RA(+), and CD3(+)CD45RO(+) cells was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The proportion of CD3(+)CD4(+), CD3(+)CD45RO(+) and CD3(+)CD38(+) cells was significantly higher, but proportion of CD3(+)CD45RA(+) and CD3(+)CD8(+) cells was significantly lower in FBS compared with HCBP supplemented medium (p < 0.05). Our results support the feasibility of ex vivo expansion of human umbilical cord blood T lymphocytes in medium supplemented with HCBP for future adoptive cellular immunotherapy.     

同种异基因抗原特异性调节性T细胞的体外扩增

目的建立用人B淋巴细胞体外获得大量的同种异基因抗原特异性调节性T(Treg)细胞的方法,以此检测扩增细胞的表型及其免疫无能性和免疫抑制性。方法第1轮扩增将免疫磁珠分选的人CD4+CD25+T细胞和人B淋巴细胞按1∶4体外混合培养,并加入外源白介素-2(IL-2)和抗-CD28;将第1轮扩增得到的Treg细胞用抗-CD3/CD28包被的免疫磁珠和IL-2刺激,做第2轮扩增以获得更多数量的抗原特异性Treg细胞,分为添加和或未添加免疫抑制剂雷帕霉素(RAPA)2组(n=3)。结果经过2轮的扩增后,在第2轮扩增中未添加RAPA组扩增1×103倍,纯度80%;添加RAPA组扩增0.8×103倍,纯度90%。添加RAPA组得到的Treg细胞的Foxp3、CT-LA4、CD39表达水平高于未添加RAPA组,但是HLA-DR变化不大;未添加RAPA组扩增得到的Treg细胞分泌低水平的IL-2、IL-17、IL-4和IFN-γ,而添加RAPA组得到的Treg细胞几乎不分泌上述各种细胞因子,前者表现出部分免疫反应无能性,后者表现出完全的免疫反应无能性,两者都表现出免疫抑制性功能特征。人B淋巴细胞扩增得到的抗原特异性Treg细胞能够极大地抑制同源抗原引起的免疫反应,而对多克隆刺激的免疫反应抑制能力较弱。结论用人B细胞体外扩增抗原特异性Treg细胞,再通过抗-CD3/CD28包被的免疫磁珠进一步刺激可以体外获得大量的抗原特异性的Treg细胞,加入RAPA后可有效地提高Treg细胞的纯度和免疫抑制力且呈现抗原特异性。     

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.     

Ex vivo expansion of long-term culture initiating marrow cells by IL-10, SCF,and IL-3

BACKGROUND: Ex vivo expansion of progentior cells may shorten hematopoietic regeneration after myeloablative chemoradiotherapy, increase target cells for gene therapy, and improve purging of progenitor cell components. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Marrow cells were incubated for 1 week in suspension culture with and without IL-10, IL-3, and SCF. As long-term culture initiating cells (LTC-ICs) represent early hematopoietic progenitors in vitro, these cells were quantified at initiation and after a 1-week culture period in a limiting dilution assays. Additionally, immunophenotyping of cells before and after culture was performed. RESULTS: In six experiments, marrow cells cultured for 1 week with IL-10, IL-3, and SCF showed a significant increase (almost doubling) in LTC-ICs as compared with marrow cells before expansion. Additionally, an increased proliferative capacity of LTC-ICs was achieved with a sevenfold increase of committed colony-forming cells and a 10-fold proliferation of high proliferative potential colony-forming cells. Immunophenotyping revealed a sevenfold increase of CD34+ CD45 RA- cells in IL-10-, IL-3-, SCF-stimulated suspension cultures. In unstimulated cultures, no LTC-ICs were maintained after 1 week. CONCLUSION: Expansion of LTC-ICs by IL-10, IL-3, and SCF has not been shown so far. This in vitro model allows expansion of LTC-IC if compared with the input of progenitor cells without extensive progenitor cell manipulation. This should be an attractive model for in vitro purging, gene transfer, or expansion of progenitor cells to allow rapid engraftment after myeloablative chemotherapy.     

阵发性睡眠性血红蛋白尿症患者骨髓CD34+CD59+细胞的体外扩增

目的研究阵发性睡眠性血红蛋白尿症(PNH)患者CD34+CD59+细胞的分离、纯化及其体外扩增的条件和性能,为探索PNH新的治疗途径提供实验依据.方法利用免疫磁珠-流式细胞仪二步分选法,从PNH患者骨髓中分选出CD34+CD59+细胞,然后对CD34+CD59+细胞在不同造血生长因子组合条件下,进行体外扩增培养2周.结果体外扩增的最适宜的生长因子组合为SCF+IL-3+IL-6+FL+Tpo+Epo,最适宜的扩增时机为第7天,在此条件下,CD34+CD59+细胞的扩增倍数为22.42±3.73倍.CD34+CD59+细胞在扩增以后,仍保持较好的形成集落形成单位的能力,但是其向多系分化的潜能有所下降.结论 PNH患者CD34+CD59+细胞能够进行体外扩增.按照最佳扩增条件,在对PNH患者进行自体骨髓移植或自体外周血干细胞移植时有一定的应用价值.     

Ex vivo lung sonography: morphologic-ultrasound relationship

Ultrasound (US) interstitial syndrome is a sonographic lung pattern characterized by the presence of acoustic artifacts (B-lines and white lung). The purpose of this study was to demonstrate how interstitial syndrome is determined by acoustic interactions in lungs of variable density and in healthy organs deflated to a nonphysiologic level of density. Normal rabbit lungs were studied ex vivo by US at varying known degrees of inflation, and their histologic appearances were described. In this experimental setting, US interstitial syndrome recognizes a mechanism related to tissue density or porosity. Artifacts (B-lines and white lung) appear in the normal rabbit lung through air-dependent increases in density. As in pathologic conditions, US interstitial syndrome can be reproduced in histologically normal lungs that are deflated to a critical level (>0.45 g/mL) of density, which is not achievable under physiologic conditions.     

Ex vivo gene therapy of familial hypercholesterolemia.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a deficiency in the receptor that clears low density lipoprotein (LDL) from the serum (reviewed in Ref. 1 and 2). Patients with one abnormal LDL receptor allele have moderate elevations in plasma LDL and suffer premature coronary artery disease (CAD). Approximately 5% of all patients under 45 who have had a myocardial infarction carry this trait. Patients with two abnormal LDL receptor genes (homozygous deficient patients) have severe hypercholesterolemia and life-threatening coronary artery disease in childhood. Strategies for treating patients with FH are directed at lowering the plasma level of LDL. In heterozygotes, this is accomplished through the administration of drugs that stimulate the expression of LDL receptor from the normal allele (2). This therapeutic approach is not effective in the treatment of homozygous deficient patients, especially those that retain less than 2% of residual LDL receptor activity. Partial amelioration of hyperlipidemia has been achieved in some homozygous deficient patients by diverting the portal circulation through a portacaval anastomosis (3) and by chronic plasmapheresis therapy (4). A more direct approach has been to correct the deficiency of hepatic LDL receptor by transplanting a liver that expresses normal levels of LDL receptor. Three patients that survived this procedure normalized their serum LDL-cholesterol (5-9). We have used an authentic animal model for FH, the Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic rabbit (WHHL), to develop gene therapies for the homozygous form of FH (10-13). The WHHL rabbit has a mutation in its LDL receptor gene which renders the receptor completely dysfunctional (12) leading to severe hypercholesterolemia, diffuse atherosclerosis, and premature death. The potential efficacy of gene therapy for FH is supported by a series of studies we have performed in the WHHL rabbit in which we have achieved metabolic improvement (14-18). Liver tissue was removed from WHHL rabbits and used to isolate hepatocytes and establish primary cultures. A functional rabbit LDL receptor gene was transduced into a high proportion of hepatocytes using recombinant retroviruses, and the genetically corrected cells were transplanted into the animal from which they were derived. Transplantation of the genetically corrected, autologous hepatocytes was associated with a 30-40% decrease in serum cholesterol that persisted for the duration of the experiment (4 months, Ref. 18). Recombinant derived LDL receptor RNA was detected in liver for at least 6 months. There was no apparent immunological response to the recombinant derived LDL receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Establishment of mouse embryonic fibroblast cell lines that promote ex vivo expansion of human cord blood CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors

The development of culture systems that facilitate ex vivo maintenance and expansion of transplantable hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) is vital to stem cell transplantation. The use of a monolayer of stromal cells on which to grow HPC in direct contact allows high efficiency ex vivo expansion of HPC. Here, we report an establishment of three murine embryonic fibroblast stromal cell lines from adherent cells of day-12 mouse embryos. Among them, HYMEQ-5 was most efficient in supporting long-term maintenance of human umbilical cord blood (CB) CD34(+) cells. Human CB CD34(+) cells cultured on HYMEQ-5 in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF), thrombopoietin, and flk-ligand (FL) showed high expansion of CD34(+)CD38(-) cells and highly proliferative potential-colony forming cells (HPP-CFC). Direct cell-to-cell contact between CD34(+) cells and HYMEQ-5 was important for this expansion. RT-PCR analysis showed that HYMEQ-5 produced FL, SCF, interleukin-6, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Expanded CB CD34(+) cells efficiently reconstituted hematopoiesis in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient disease (NOD/SCID) mice. These findings suggest that HYMEQ-5 provides a milieu that supports long-term human hematopoiesis as well as ex vivo expansion of human CB CD34(+) HPC. This cell line may facilitate elucidation of the mechanism of cellular interactions between HPC and stromal cells.     

不同细胞因子组合对脐血巨核细胞的体外扩增效应

目的　探讨在体外液体培养条件下不同细胞因子组合促进脐血单个核细胞向巨核系增殖分化的效应。方法　将TPO(thrombopoietin)、SCF(stemcellfactor)、SCGF(stemcellgrowthfactor)、IL- 3、EPO(erythropoietin)等细胞因子组合成不同的实验组,在无血清液体培养体系中,体外扩增脐血单个核细胞 (CBMC)14d。扩增后于不同时间点用流式细胞仪检测CD61 细胞的比例,同时计数活细胞数,从而求得较好的细胞因子组合组。结果　经 14d培养后,SCF TPO组扩增效果最好,活细胞总数和CD61 细胞数量分别增加了 3. 14±0. 62倍和 48. 40±5. 71倍,显著高于单用TPO组的 1. 81±0. 36倍和 18. 72±3. 73倍。TPO IL 3组使CD61 细胞数量增加了 25. 82±3. 88倍,但扩增后CD61 细胞比例仅为 9. 34% ±1. 92%,低于TPO组的12. 21%±2. 27%;TPO SCGF组和TPO EPO组的扩增效果与单用TPO组相比无统计学差异 (P>0. 05)。结论　SCF能协同TPO增强巨核系造血,增加培养体系中巨核细胞的纯度和数量。     

人胎盘CD133+细胞体外扩增巨核系祖细胞的研究

目的 探讨人胎盘组织CD133+(PT-CD133+)细胞体外扩增分化巨核系祖细胞(MPC)的能力.方法 采用磁珠激活细胞分选系统(MACS)分选PT-CD133+细胞,接种于含TPO、IL-3和SCF的无血清液体培养体系中体外扩增MPC,于培养7、10和14 d进行细胞计数,流式细胞术检测细胞扩增过程中CD133、CD34、CD41抗原表达的动态变化,并采用半固体培养法对不同扩增阶段的细胞进行巨核祖细胞集落(CFU-MK)培养.结果 培养至7 d时,PT-CD133+细胞扩增效果最佳,扩增了(13±2)倍,培养至14 d,细胞总数扩增了160倍;随着扩增时间的延长,CD133、CD34表达逐渐下调,而CD41的表达逐渐增强,扩增后的巨核系细胞多呈幼稚状态,未见血小板形成;PT-CD133+细胞扩增前后均能形成CFU-MK,扩增10 d的细胞形成的CFU-MK总数最多,扩增了(54±10)倍.结论 人PT-CD133+细胞具有体外扩增分化为MPC的能力,培养10 d的细胞形成的CFU-MK总数最多.