Successful translation of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based therapies into clinical reality relies on adequate cell production procedures. These should be available not only for human MSC, but also for MSC from animal species relevant to preclinical research and veterinary medicine. The cell culture medium supplementation is one of the critical aspects in MSC production. Therefore, we previously established a scalable protocol for the production of buffy-coat based equine platelet lysate (ePL). This ePL proved to be a suitable alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) for equine adipose-derived (AD-) MSC culture so far, as it supported AD-MSC proliferation and basic characteristics. The aim of the current study was to further analyze the functional properties of equine AD-MSC cultured with the same ePL, focusing on cell fitness, genetic stability and pro-angiogenic potency. All experiments were performed with AD-MSC from n = 5 horses, which were cultured either in medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 10% ePL or 2.5% ePL. AD-MSC cultured with 2.5% ePL, which previously showed decreased proliferation potential, displayed higher apoptosis but lower senescence levels as compared to 10% ePL medium (p < 0.05). Non-clonal chromosomal aberrations occurred in 8% of equine AD-MSC cultivated with FBS and only in 4.8% of equine AD-MSC cultivated with 10% ePL. Clonal aberrations in the AD-MSC were neither observed in FBS nor in 10% ePL medium. Analysis of AD-MSC and endothelial cells in an indirect co-culture revealed that the ePL supported the pro-angiogenic effects of AD-MSC. In the 10% ePL group, more vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) was released and highest VEGF-A concentrations were reached in the presence of ePL and co-cultured cells (p < 0.05). Correspondingly, AD-MSC expressed the VEGF receptor-2 at higher levels in the presence of ePL (p < 0.05). Finally, AD-MSC and 10% ePL together promoted the growth of endothelial cells and induced the formation of vessel-like structures in two of the samples. These data further substantiate that buffy-coat-based ePL is a valuable supplement for equine AD-MSC culture media. The ePL does not only support stable equine AD-MSC characteristics as demonstrated before, but it also enhances their functional properties.

Simple Summary Regenerative medicine using platelet-based blood products or adult stem cells offers the prospect of better clinical outcomes with many diseases. In veterinary medicine, most progress has been made with the development and therapeutic use of these regenerative therapeutics in horses, but the clinical need is given in dogs as well. Our aim was to transfer previous advances in the development of horse regenerative therapeutics, specifically the use of platelet lysate for feeding stem cell cultures, to the dog. Here, we describe the scalable production of canine platelet lysate, which could be used in regenerative biological therapies. We also evaluated the canine platelet lysate for its suitability in feeding canine stem cell cultures in comparison to equine platelet lysate used for equine stem cell cultures. Platelet lysate production from canine blood was successful, but the platelet lysate did not support stem cell culture in dogs in the same beneficial way observed with the equine platelet lysate and stem cells. In conclusion, canine platelet lysate can be produced in large scales as described here, but further research is needed to improve the cultivation of canine stem cells. Abstract Platelet lysate (PL) is an attractive platelet-based therapeutic tool and has shown promise as xeno-free replacement for fetal bovine serum (FBS) in human and equine mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) culture. Here, we established a scalable buffy-coat-based protocol for canine PL (cPL) production (n = 12). The cPL was tested in canine adipose MSC (n = 5) culture compared to FBS. For further comparison, equine adipose MSC (n = 5) were cultured with analogous equine PL (ePL) or FBS. During canine blood processing, platelet and transforming growth factor-β1 concentrations increased (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001), while white blood cell concentrations decreased (p < 0.05). However, while equine MSC showed good results when cultured with 10% ePL, canine MSC cultured with 2.5% or 10% cPL changed their morphology and showed decreased metabolic activity (p < 0.05). Apoptosis and necrosis in canine MSC were increased with 2.5% cPL (p < 0.05). Surprisingly, passage 5 canine MSC showed less genetic aberrations after culture with 10% cPL than with FBS. Our data reveal that using analogous canine and equine biologicals does not entail the same results. The buffy-coat-based cPL was not adequate for canine MSC culture, but may still be useful for therapeutic applications.

Natural Killer (NK) cells can recognize and lyse a large variety of tumor cells and have been of interest as a potential cancer treatment option. Our group has developed a particle-based NK cell expansion method that utilizes plasma membrane particles (PM-particles) derived from K562 cells genetically engineered to express membrane bound IL21 and 41BBL(K562-mbIL21-41BBL), two proteins that stimulate growth and activity of NK cells. This method selectively expands highly cytotoxic NK cells > 400-fold in 14 days of culture. Currently NK cells are expanded in vitro using Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) as a serum-supplement to promote cell growth. While effective, the use of animal products is not preferred in cell cultures grown for clinical purposes. This project tested Human Platelet Lysates (HPL) as a potential replacement for FBS in NK cell culture. NK cells were expanded using PM21-particle based expansion method with either FBS or HPL as supplements. Their growth characteristics, phenotype and functionality were assessed and compared. Results of this study determined that HPL is a viable option to replace FBS in NK cell culture for clinical applications, as there was no significant difference between the two serum supplements.

Translation of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based therapies is advancing in human and veterinary medicine. One critical issue is the in vitro culture of MSC before clinical use. Using fetal bovine serum (FBS) as supplement to the basal medium is still the gold standard for cultivation of many cell types including equine MSC. Alternatives are being explored, with substantial success using platelet lysate-supplemented media for human MSC. However, progress lags behind in the veterinary field. The aim of this study was to establish a scalable protocol for equine platelet lysate (ePL) production and to test the ePL in equine MSC culture. Whole blood was harvested into blood collection bags from 20 healthy horses. After checking sample materials for pathogen contamination, samples from 19 animals were included. Platelet concentrates were prepared using a buffy coat method. Platelets, platelet-derived growth factor BB, and transforming growth factor b1 concentrations were increased in the concentrates compared with whole blood or serum (p < 0.05), while white blood cells were reduced (p < 0.05). The concentrates were lysed using freeze/thaw cycles, which eliminated the cells while growth factor concentrations were maintained. Donor age negatively correlated with platelet and growth factor concentrations after processing (p < 0.05). Finally, all lysates were pooled and the ePL was evaluated as culture medium supplement in comparison with FBS, using adipose-derived MSC from four unrelated donor horses. MSC proliferated well in 10% FBS as well as in 10% ePL. However, using 5 or 2.5% ePL entailed highly inconsistent proliferation or loss of proliferation, with significant differences in generation times and confluencies (p < 0.05). MSC expressed the surface antigens CD90, CD44, and CD29, but CD73 and CD105 detection was low in all culture media. Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation led to similar results in MSC from different culture media. The buffy coat method is useful to produce equine platelet concentrate with increased platelet and reduced white blood cell content in large scales. The ePL obtained supports MSC expansion similar as FBS when used at the same concentration (10%). Further investigations into equine MSC functionality in culture with ePL should follow.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have emerged as therapeutic tools for a wide range of pathological conditions. Yet, the still existing deficits regarding MSC phenotype characterization and the resulting heterogeneity of MSC used in different preclinical and clinical studies hamper the translational success. In search for novel MSC characterization approaches to complement the traditional trilineage differentiation and immunophenotyping assays reliably across species and culture conditions, this study explored the applicability of lipid phenotyping for MSC characterization and discrimination. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), human fibroblasts, and human and equine adipose-derived MSC were used to compare different mesodermal cell types and MSC from different species. For MSC, cells cultured in different conditions, including medium supplementation with either fetal bovine serum or platelet lysate as well as culture on collagen-coated dishes, were additionally investigated. After cell harvest, lipids were extracted by chloroform/ methanol according to Bligh and Dyer. The lipid profiles were analysed by an untargeted approach using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LCMS) with a reversed phase column and an ion trap mass spectrometer. In all samples, phospholipids and sphingomyelins were found, while other lipids were not detected with the current approach. The phospholipids included different species of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylserine (PS) in all cell types, whereas phosphatidylglycerol (PG) species were only present in MSC. MSC from both species showed a higher phospholipid species diversity than PBMC and fibroblasts. Few differences were found between MSC from different culture conditions, except that human MSC cultured with platelet lysate exhibited a unique phenotype in that they exclusively featured PE O-40:4, PG 38:6 and PG 40:6. In search for specific and inclusive candidate MSC lipid markers, we identified PE O-36:3 and PG 40:7 as potentially suitable markers across culture conditions, at which PE O-36:3 might even be used across species. On that basis, phospholipid phenotyping is a highly promising approach for MSC characterization, which might condone some heterogeneity within the MSC while still achieving a clear discrimination even from fibroblasts. Particularly the presence or absence of PG might emerge as a decisive criterion for future MSC characterization.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Introdução: Células-troco mesenquimais (CTM) vêm mostrando seus benefícios na doença do enxerto-versus-hospedeiro (DECH), observada no transplante de células tronco hematopoéticas (TCTH), existem três questões em aberto: (1) Expansão de CTM em meio de cultura suplementado com soro fetal bovino (SFB), pelo o risco de xenorreação; (2) Otimização de condições de cultura para a obtenção, em tempo hábil, de um numero que permita de 4 a 6 infusões de 2x106cells/kg do receptor; (3) Obter células do doador de medula óssea, evitando assim a utilização de um terceiro doador. Objetivos: Este estudo foi desenhado para comparar o lisado de plaquetas (LP) e o SFB na expansão de CTM, a densidade de plaqueamento das células e os dias entre cada passagem, e para investigar se as células nucleadas totais obtidas da bolsa e filtro do TCTH, podem ser utilizadas para expansão de CTM para utilização clínica. Métodos: Células residuais foram removidas do filtro e da bolsa utilizados para o TCTH, plaqueadas e depois da primeira passagem foram cultivadas em diferentes concentrações com SFB ou LP e observado o número de dias que levaram para chegar a 80% de confluência. Em seguida, as culturas com as mesmas densidades de plaqueamento foram suplementadas com LP ou SFB e depois de sete dias contou-se o número de células para analisar o quanto elas cresceram nesse período. Resultados: A proliferação de CTM, na presença de LP e SFB foi em média 11,88 e 2,5 vezes, respectivamente, num período de 7 dias. A concentração mais elevada de células usando LP demorou menos tempo para atingir a confluência, em comparação com os três inferiores. Este estudo sugere que o LP é a melhor escolha como suplemento para expandir CTM, e permite a proliferação de um número suficiente de CTM de doadores para uso clínico. / Introduction: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have shown their benefits in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), with three unsettled matters:(1) MSCs expansion in medium with Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) and its risk of xenoreaction; (2) The number of cells indicated for therapy is 2x106cells/Kg with the need to optimize expansion, number and time wise; and (3) the utilization of third party donors. Aims: This study was designed to compare the platelet lysate (LP) and FCS on the expansion of MSC, the optimal cell plating density and days between each pass, and to investigate if donor total nucleated cells (TNC) obtained from the washouts of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) explants can be expanded to be used at clinical grade. Methods: TNC were removed, plated and after the first passage were cultivated in different concentrations with FCS or PL and the number of days reach 80% of confluence was observed. Next, cultures with the same plating density were fed either with PL or FCS and after seven days counted to analyze how much they have grown in that period. Results: The proliferation of mesenchymal stromal cells in the presence of PL and SFB was averaged 11.88 and 2.5 times, respectively, in a period of 7 days. The highest concentration of plating cells using PL, took less time to reach confluence as compared with the three lower ones. This study suggests that the PL is the best choice as a supplement to expand MSC, and allows the proliferation of a sufficient number of donors MSC at P2 for clinical use.

Introdução: Células tronco mesenquimais (CTM) são uma população residente nos tecidos adultos de origem mesodérmica, com funções regenerativas de manutenção da integridade tecidual, com destaque no desempenho imunomodulador. Esse aspecto levou as CTM a tornarem-se ferramentas terapêuticas valiosas da pesquisa à assistência ao paciente em doenças autoimunes e de cunho inflamatório. Além disso, CTM podem ser isoladas de materiais tidos como descarte de procedimentos, como dentes decíduos, filtros de transplante de medula óssea e gordura. Nesse panorama, torna-se necessário estabelecer o efeito que a origem tecidual tem na eficiência imunoreguladora e na possível aplicabilidade clínica destas células. Objetivo: Comparar o potencial imunomodulador de células mesenquimais isoladas a partir de filtros descartados após a infusão de medula óssea, de lipoaspirado e de polpa de dentes decíduos. Métodos: Foi realizada a comparação da capacidade proliferativa de CTMs, cultivadas na presença de lisado plaquetário, das diversas fontes através do cálculo de population doubling das CTM em co-cultura com linfócitos T isolados em coluna magnética e com células mononucleares de sangue periférico, estimuladas com fitohemaglutinina; e determinado por citometria de fluxo o efeito das CTM das diversas fontes sobre as subpopulações linfocitárias. Resultados: CTM das três fontes foram capazes de inibir a proliferação de linfócitos e CTM de tecido adiposo foram mais eficientes em induzir o fenótipo de células T reguladoras e na diminuição de células T citotóxicas. Conclusão: comparadas à CTM isoladas de medula óssea e de polpa dentária, as CTM originadas de tecido adiposo exibem efeito imunomodulador mais acentuado. / Background: Mesenchymla stromal cells (MSC) reside in most adult tissue of mesenchymal origen, with a broad functions envolving cell repopulation and maintenence of tissue homeostasis, trough immunemmodulatory action. MSC are valuable terapêutic instruments applied from research to autoimune and inflamatory diseases. MSC can be isolated from diverse discarted biological matherials, like lipoaspirate, exfoliated deciduous teeeth and boné marrow ransplant filters. There so it´s necessary to stablish how source can impact MSC efficiency and possible clinical aplications. Objective: Compare immunomodulatory potential of adipose MSC and dental pulp MSC to boné marrow MSC. Methods: MSC from three selected sources were cocultured with phytohemaglutinin stimulated and magnetically isolated T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells; immunephenotype of cocultivated lymphocytes were also conducted. Results: MSC from all analyzed sources were capable to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. Adipose MSC were capable to induce Treg phenotype and decrease T CD8+ limphocytes. Conclusion: Cell culture and therapy with MSC present many paradigms and we address to some of those to elucidate the possible most efficient source.

Introdução: Células-troco mesenquimais (CTM) vêm mostrando seus benefícios na doença do enxerto-versus-hospedeiro (DECH), observada no transplante de células tronco hematopoéticas (TCTH), existem três questões em aberto: (1) Expansão de CTM em meio de cultura suplementado com soro fetal bovino (SFB), pelo o risco de xenorreação; (2) Otimização de condições de cultura para a obtenção, em tempo hábil, de um numero que permita de 4 a 6 infusões de 2x106cells/kg do receptor; (3) Obter células do doador de medula óssea, evitando assim a utilização de um terceiro doador. Objetivos: Este estudo foi desenhado para comparar o lisado de plaquetas (LP) e o SFB na expansão de CTM, a densidade de plaqueamento das células e os dias entre cada passagem, e para investigar se as células nucleadas totais obtidas da bolsa e filtro do TCTH, podem ser utilizadas para expansão de CTM para utilização clínica. Métodos: Células residuais foram removidas do filtro e da bolsa utilizados para o TCTH, plaqueadas e depois da primeira passagem foram cultivadas em diferentes concentrações com SFB ou LP e observado o número de dias que levaram para chegar a 80% de confluência. Em seguida, as culturas com as mesmas densidades de plaqueamento foram suplementadas com LP ou SFB e depois de sete dias contou-se o número de células para analisar o quanto elas cresceram nesse período. Resultados: A proliferação de CTM, na presença de LP e SFB foi em média 11,88 e 2,5 vezes, respectivamente, num período de 7 dias. A concentração mais elevada de células usando LP demorou menos tempo para atingir a confluência, em comparação com os três inferiores. Este estudo sugere que o LP é a melhor escolha como suplemento para expandir CTM, e permite a proliferação de um número suficiente de CTM de doadores para uso clínico. / Introduction: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have shown their benefits in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), with three unsettled matters:(1) MSCs expansion in medium with Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) and its risk of xenoreaction; (2) The number of cells indicated for therapy is 2x106cells/Kg with the need to optimize expansion, number and time wise; and (3) the utilization of third party donors. Aims: This study was designed to compare the platelet lysate (LP) and FCS on the expansion of MSC, the optimal cell plating density and days between each pass, and to investigate if donor total nucleated cells (TNC) obtained from the washouts of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) explants can be expanded to be used at clinical grade. Methods: TNC were removed, plated and after the first passage were cultivated in different concentrations with FCS or PL and the number of days reach 80% of confluence was observed. Next, cultures with the same plating density were fed either with PL or FCS and after seven days counted to analyze how much they have grown in that period. Results: The proliferation of mesenchymal stromal cells in the presence of PL and SFB was averaged 11.88 and 2.5 times, respectively, in a period of 7 days. The highest concentration of plating cells using PL, took less time to reach confluence as compared with the three lower ones. This study suggests that the PL is the best choice as a supplement to expand MSC, and allows the proliferation of a sufficient number of donors MSC at P2 for clinical use.