Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Duane L. Davis / The common choice of medium for culturing pig umbilical cord matrix stem cells (PUCs) is high glucose Dulbecco’s Minimum Essential Medium (HG-DMEM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS). FBS is a chemically undefined supplement that encourages attachment of explants and cells and is useful for long-term proliferation in an undifferentiated state. Removing FBS from the culture medium would decrease the possibility of microbial contamination and might produce more consistent results. A defined medium would facilitate experiments to determine requirements for specific growth factors and nutrients. Starting PUCs in a FBS-free environment proved to be a challenge. The results of 15 experiments testing various media, supplements, and culture conditions indicate that PUCs initially plated in an FBS-free environment do not attach as readily as those in HG-DMEM supplemented with FBS. PUCs were collected using enzyme digestion of the whole cord or by plating explants from the cord in culture medium. In the final experiment PUCs were seeded in 24-well plates (5.0 * 10[superscript]4 viable cells per well) with a collagen coating and cultured in Knock-out DMEM (KO-DMEM) with basic fibroblast growth factor (5ng/mL) and platelet derived growth factor (5ng/mL) in a low oxygen atmosphere (5% O[subscript]2/ 5% CO[subscript]2/ 90% N[subscript]2). The total non-adherent cell count at passage 1 was 1.78 * 10[superscript]5 +or- 3.68 * 10[superscript]4 and the total adherent cells were 2.58 * 10[superscript]5 +or- 9.29 * 10[superscript]4. The well confluence during initial cell proliferation appeared similar to cells cultured in the control media with 20% FBS (total adherent cells = 6.40 * 10[superscript]5 +or- S.E. 1.61 * 10[superscript]5 and total non-adherent cells = 2.88 * 10[superscript]5 + 7.60 * 10[superscript]4). However the number of adherent cells recovered for passage 2 was considerably less for cultures in FBS-free media than for the control group. Serum may affect attachment by providing attachment factors or it could change expression of integrins or other attachment molecules on the PUCs that enhance attachment to plastic or other substrates. In future studies the requirements for attachment of PUCs should be further evaluated.

Serum-free mouse embryo (SFME) cells, which were derived from 16-day-old Balb/c mouse embryo brain, grow in absence of serum without losing genomic normality or proliferative potential, and require epidermal growth factor (EGF) for normal growth. EGF is a well studied mitogen that binds to a specific receptor on the cell surface membrane to activate the proliferative signal transduction pathways. The activated receptor is a tyrosine specific protein kinase, and tyrosine phosphorylation is one of the important mediators of EGF receptor (EGFR) signal transduction. Using anti-phosphotyrosine Western immunoblotting, we detected a 100 kDa protein which is tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to EGF in SFME cells. This protein is constitutively phosphorylated in an SFME cell line which expresses the neu oncogene. The neu oncogene encodes an analog protein of EGFR which does not require a ligand for activation, and neu-transformed SFME cells are tumorgenic in mice.This protein, p100 was not a fragment of EGFR, and was not antigenically related to other signal transduction phosphoproteins of about 100 kDa. We attempted to purify p100 from neu SFME tumor cells for amino acid sequencing. / Graduation date: 1997

Embryogenesis occurs within a complex and dynamic cellular environment that influences cell fate decisions. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are a valuable tool for research into disease models as well as a resource for cell therapy due to their capacity to self-renew and differentiate into all cell types. Mimicking aspects of the embryonic microenvironment in vitro impacts the resultant functional cells. The aim of this work was to develop a controlled and scaleable process for the generation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We demonstrated with bioreactor-grown embryoid bodies (EBs) that increased HPC generation can be elicited by decreasing the oxygen tension by a mechanism where vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) activation is controlled through competition with the ligand decoy VEGFR1. This is important as it demonstrates the inherent responsiveness of the developing hematopoietic system to external forces and influences. We also established a serum-free system that facilitates directed differentiation, determining 5 ng/ml bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) with 50 ng/ml thrombopoietin (TPO) could generate 292 ± 42 colony forming cells (CFC)/5 x 10^4 cells with early VEGF treatment (25 ng/ml, day 0-5). We also controlled aggregate size influencing relative endogenous and exogenous growth factor signaling and modulating mesodermal differentiation; CFC output was optimal when initialized with 100 cell aggregates. For the first time, we demonstrated efficacy of local growth factor delivery by producing HPCs with gelatin microparticles (MP). Overall, these design components generate HPCs in a controlled and reproducible manner using a serum-free bioprocess that couples size controlled aggregates containing gelatin MPs for localized growth factor release of BMP4 and TPO with hypoxia to induce endogenous VEGF production. These strategies provide a tunable platform for developing cell therapies and high density growth, within a bioreactor system, can be facilitated by hydrogel encapsulation of the aggregates.

Embryogenesis occurs within a complex and dynamic cellular environment that influences cell fate decisions. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are a valuable tool for research into disease models as well as a resource for cell therapy due to their capacity to self-renew and differentiate into all cell types. Mimicking aspects of the embryonic microenvironment in vitro impacts the resultant functional cells. The aim of this work was to develop a controlled and scaleable process for the generation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We demonstrated with bioreactor-grown embryoid bodies (EBs) that increased HPC generation can be elicited by decreasing the oxygen tension by a mechanism where vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) activation is controlled through competition with the ligand decoy VEGFR1. This is important as it demonstrates the inherent responsiveness of the developing hematopoietic system to external forces and influences. We also established a serum-free system that facilitates directed differentiation, determining 5 ng/ml bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) with 50 ng/ml thrombopoietin (TPO) could generate 292 ± 42 colony forming cells (CFC)/5 x 10^4 cells with early VEGF treatment (25 ng/ml, day 0-5). We also controlled aggregate size influencing relative endogenous and exogenous growth factor signaling and modulating mesodermal differentiation; CFC output was optimal when initialized with 100 cell aggregates. For the first time, we demonstrated efficacy of local growth factor delivery by producing HPCs with gelatin microparticles (MP). Overall, these design components generate HPCs in a controlled and reproducible manner using a serum-free bioprocess that couples size controlled aggregates containing gelatin MPs for localized growth factor release of BMP4 and TPO with hypoxia to induce endogenous VEGF production. These strategies provide a tunable platform for developing cell therapies and high density growth, within a bioreactor system, can be facilitated by hydrogel encapsulation of the aggregates.

This thesis presents a study on the enhancement of CHO cell growth by Yeast extract, Yeastolate, and Primatone fractions obtained by dead-end ultrafiltration. The total solid, peptide contents, antioxidant capacity and hydrophobicity of the fractions were evaluated. The objective of this project was to evaluate the potential of sequential ultrafiltration as an effective, simple and economical method for the identification of CHO cell growth enhancement components in yeast extract and yeastolate (primatone). The fractionation by sequential ultrafiltration (50 kDa membrane, 3 kDa membrane and 1 kDa membrane) of yeast extract (YE), yeastolate (YET), and primatone (PRI) showed different fouling and fractionation behaviour. Significant fouling was observed with the 50 kDa and 3 kDa membrane while negligible fouling was observed with the 1 kDa membrane. Similar and more significant fouling was observed with the 50 kDa membrane and for YE and PRI in comparison to YET. In contrast, more fouling was observed during the ultrafiltration with the 3kDa MWCO and for YE and YET in comparison to PRI. Finally a relatively constant permeate flux was obtained with the 1 kDa membrane, with PRI the highest and YET the lowest permeate flux. Different total peptide contents were present in the three feeds, 410, 327 and 300 mmol Phe-Gly equivalent/ g total solids for YE, PRI and YET respectively. In spite of different feed equivalent Phe-Gly, all three feeds contained a similar amount of equivalent Phe-Gly with molecular weight larger than 50 kDa, 15-19% of the initial feed stream. This was similar amount to the total solids content. The total peptide content of the retentate obtained for the 3kDa filtration indicated that YE and YET contained ~ 20% of equivalent Phe-Gly larger than 3 kDa but smaller than 50kDa. In contrast, PRI contained only 6% of equivalent Phe-Gly with such molecular weight. The retentate of the 1kDa filtration contained 55% of the feed equivalent Phe-Gly compared to 47% for YE and 38% for YET (p< 0.05). All three feeds have similar total peptide content smaller than 1 kDa. For any given feed, the equivalent Phe-Gly was larger than 1 kDa but smaller than 3 kDa predominated. The total peptide content profile according to size coincides with the total solids distribution for all three feed types. This is the first study that reports on the total peptide content for YE, YET, and PRI subjected to ultrafiltration fractionation. All three feeds and their fractions when freeze-dried had similar antioxidant capacity estimated by the FCR (Folin-Ciocalteu reagent) assay, ~ 40-50 mg Trolox/g sample. The bioactivity of feed and fractions was measured as cell density for CHO (beta-IFN producers) in basal medium supplemented with a combination of the crude non-fractionated feed material and a specific fraction and grown in T25 flasks. PRI showed a similar growth enhancement effect for all fractions when compared to a culture supplemented with the crude non-fractionated. YE showed no growth enhancement for any of the fractions when compared to a culture supplemented with the crude non-fractionated YE. This observation need to be confirmed as a culture supplemented with the crude non-fractionated YE showed a very high growth stimulating effect which was much higher than PRI and YET at the same concentration. Finally, YET 3kDa retentate fraction displayed a 50 % growth enhancement effect. In conclusion, the fractions obtained from the two non-animal protein hydrolysates considered in this study, YE and YET showed limited CHO cell growth enhancement effect when compared to the non-fractionated material. Only the YET 3kDa retentate fraction displayed a good CHO cell growth enhancement effect. YET 3kDa represent an attractive serum substitute for its use in culturing CHO cells. PRI, an animal derived protein hydrolysate showed the best growth enhancement effect for all fractions produced in this study. These results suggest that YET has high potential as a media additive for the development of serum-free media which can promote cell growth and, in the future this work can contribute in production of therapeutic proteins markets.

This thesis presents a study on the enhancement of CHO cell growth by Yeast extract, Yeastolate, and Primatone fractions obtained by dead-end ultrafiltration. The total solid, peptide contents, antioxidant capacity and hydrophobicity of the fractions were evaluated. The objective of this project was to evaluate the potential of sequential ultrafiltration as an effective, simple and economical method for the identification of CHO cell growth enhancement components in yeast extract and yeastolate (primatone). The fractionation by sequential ultrafiltration (50 kDa membrane, 3 kDa membrane and 1 kDa membrane) of yeast extract (YE), yeastolate (YET), and primatone (PRI) showed different fouling and fractionation behaviour. Significant fouling was observed with the 50 kDa and 3 kDa membrane while negligible fouling was observed with the 1 kDa membrane. Similar and more significant fouling was observed with the 50 kDa membrane and for YE and PRI in comparison to YET. In contrast, more fouling was observed during the ultrafiltration with the 3kDa MWCO and for YE and YET in comparison to PRI. Finally a relatively constant permeate flux was obtained with the 1 kDa membrane, with PRI the highest and YET the lowest permeate flux. Different total peptide contents were present in the three feeds, 410, 327 and 300 mmol Phe-Gly equivalent/ g total solids for YE, PRI and YET respectively. In spite of different feed equivalent Phe-Gly, all three feeds contained a similar amount of equivalent Phe-Gly with molecular weight larger than 50 kDa, 15-19% of the initial feed stream. This was similar amount to the total solids content. The total peptide content of the retentate obtained for the 3kDa filtration indicated that YE and YET contained ~ 20% of equivalent Phe-Gly larger than 3 kDa but smaller than 50kDa. In contrast, PRI contained only 6% of equivalent Phe-Gly with such molecular weight. The retentate of the 1kDa filtration contained 55% of the feed equivalent Phe-Gly compared to 47% for YE and 38% for YET (p< 0.05). All three feeds have similar total peptide content smaller than 1 kDa. For any given feed, the equivalent Phe-Gly was larger than 1 kDa but smaller than 3 kDa predominated. The total peptide content profile according to size coincides with the total solids distribution for all three feed types. This is the first study that reports on the total peptide content for YE, YET, and PRI subjected to ultrafiltration fractionation. All three feeds and their fractions when freeze-dried had similar antioxidant capacity estimated by the FCR (Folin-Ciocalteu reagent) assay, ~ 40-50 mg Trolox/g sample. The bioactivity of feed and fractions was measured as cell density for CHO (beta-IFN producers) in basal medium supplemented with a combination of the crude non-fractionated feed material and a specific fraction and grown in T25 flasks. PRI showed a similar growth enhancement effect for all fractions when compared to a culture supplemented with the crude non-fractionated. YE showed no growth enhancement for any of the fractions when compared to a culture supplemented with the crude non-fractionated YE. This observation need to be confirmed as a culture supplemented with the crude non-fractionated YE showed a very high growth stimulating effect which was much higher than PRI and YET at the same concentration. Finally, YET 3kDa retentate fraction displayed a 50 % growth enhancement effect. In conclusion, the fractions obtained from the two non-animal protein hydrolysates considered in this study, YE and YET showed limited CHO cell growth enhancement effect when compared to the non-fractionated material. Only the YET 3kDa retentate fraction displayed a good CHO cell growth enhancement effect. YET 3kDa represent an attractive serum substitute for its use in culturing CHO cells. PRI, an animal derived protein hydrolysate showed the best growth enhancement effect for all fractions produced in this study. These results suggest that YET has high potential as a media additive for the development of serum-free media which can promote cell growth and, in the future this work can contribute in production of therapeutic proteins markets.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the embryo that have great potential for regenerative therapies because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into almost all cell types. However, this developmental potential is influenced by the local cellular microenvironment, including cell surface bound ligands. In this study, we synthesized an artificial stem cell niche wherein vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) was functionally immobilized in an agarose hydrogel. Immobilized VEGFA treatments were able to upregulate mesodermal markers, brachyury and VEGF receptor 2, by day 4 and were CD34+CD41+ by day seven. Subsequently, VEGFA immobilized treatments were able to generate colony forming cells by day fourteen. This work demonstrates our ability to use functionalized hydrogels to guide ESCs toward blood progenitor cells and serves as a useful tool to replicate aspects of the embryonic microenvironment.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the embryo that have great potential for regenerative therapies because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into almost all cell types. However, this developmental potential is influenced by the local cellular microenvironment, including cell surface bound ligands. In this study, we synthesized an artificial stem cell niche wherein vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) was functionally immobilized in an agarose hydrogel. Immobilized VEGFA treatments were able to upregulate mesodermal markers, brachyury and VEGF receptor 2, by day 4 and were CD34+CD41+ by day seven. Subsequently, VEGFA immobilized treatments were able to generate colony forming cells by day fourteen. This work demonstrates our ability to use functionalized hydrogels to guide ESCs toward blood progenitor cells and serves as a useful tool to replicate aspects of the embryonic microenvironment.

Serum-free mouse embryo (SFME) cells are derived in medium in which serum is replaced with growth factors and other supplements. They display unusual properties. They do not lose proliferative potential or show gross chromosomal aberration upon extended culture, they depend on epidermal growth factor (EGF) for survival, and are reversibly growth inhibited by plasma and serum. In the presence of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) SFME cells express the astrocyte marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The growth inhibitory activity of human plasma on serum-free mouse embryo cells was investigated. Human plasma did not inhibit SFME cells transformed with the human Ha-ras oncogene. The activity was present in delipidated plasma and was not dialyzable against 1 M acetic acid. The activity could be precipitated by methanol, bound to concanavalin Aagarose and was retarded by Sephadex G-50 in 200 mM acetic acid. A fifty to hundred fold purification was achieved, although the differential inhibition of untransformed versus transformed cells was lost in the course of the purification. Using the technique of differential screening of a cDNA library a calf serum- and TGF -β-regulated mRNA species was identified in SFME cells. This mRNA was approximately 8.5 kilobases in size and brain-specific. Picomolar quantities of TGF-β caused an increase of this message in SFME cells within four hours. This increase was reversed when TGF-β was removed from the culture medium. / Graduation date: 1993

The global demand for animal proteins is projected to rise by 14% by 2030, amplifying the environmental toll of conventional animal-based protein production. Cultivated meat technology can alleviate the growing demand for protein and address the environmental and ethical concerns associated with conventional livestock farming. However, it faces a critical challenge: the high cost of cell culture media, primarily due to the use of Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). Substituting serum with protein hydrolysates reduces the production expense of cultivated meat products and promotes establishing a sustainable food system. This study explores black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) as an emerging ethical and cost-effective alternative protein source to replace serum in media, particularly for cultivated meat production. The development of BSFL protein isolate involved defatting the larva, followed by protein extraction. The protein isolate was then hydrolyzed using an enzyme to produce BSFL hydrolysates. The goal was to supplement the protein isolate and hydrolysates with a serum-free media (B8) and determine their efficacy in replacing the 20% serum requirement for the cell culture of Bovine Satellite Cells. The BSFL protein isolate developed had a crude protein content of 80.42% and an amino acid composition conducive to cell proliferation. Experimental concentrations, ranging from 0.006 mg/ml for hydrolysate to 0.06 mg/ml for protein isolate, exhibited enhanced cell growth. Data from dsDNA quantification revealed no significant difference in growth between cells fed serum-containing growth media (BSC-GM) and BSFL protein hydrolysate (BSFLH_1h) over a short-term study. Results from the multi-passage growth study revealed that BSFLH_1h significantly improved cell growth compared to B8 over 4 passages. However, its doubling time was slower than BSC-GM. Additionally, it was observed that the protein isolate and hydrolysate were cytotoxic at higher concentrations. In the future, identifying and removing the cytotoxic compounds can further optimize the media composition. Immunostaining using Pax7 and DAPI identified supplemented media-maintained satellite cell identity of Bovine satellite cells, offering crucial insights into cellular proliferation. Furthermore, since each cell type requires varying serum and nutrients, testing these isolates and hydrolysates on different cell lines can provide better insight into creating a universal serum-free media. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / The global demand for animal proteins is projected to rise by 14% by 2030, amplifying the environmental toll of conventional animal-based protein production. Meat, dairy, aquaculture, and eggs significantly contribute to food-related emissions and occupy a vast portion of global farmland. Cultivated meat production can alleviate the growing demand for protein and address the environmental and ethical concerns associated with conventional livestock farming. Currently, the production of cultivated meat faces a significant hurdle: the high cost of culture media, primarily attributed to the use of Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). Substituting serum with protein isolates or hydrolysates reduce the production expense of cultivated meat products and promotes a sustainable food system. Protein isolate and hydrolysates derived from black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) are rich in protein and essential amino acids and can be used as a cost-effective alternative to serum in cell culture media. The protein isolate and hydrolysates derived from BSFL were tested as supplements to a serum-free media (B8) to evaluate their effectiveness in supporting the growth of Bovine Satellite Cells. The protein hydrolysate demonstrated enhanced cell growth at experimental concentrations. However, it could not completely replace serum requirements without slowing cell growth. Despite challenges such as cytotoxicity at higher concentrations, our study suggests that further refinements and application on various cell types can assist in creating a sustainable and affordable serum-free media for cultivated meat production.