Real-time method for determining the colony-forming cell content of human hematopoietic cell cultures

Glucose and lactate metabolic rates were evaluated for cultures of cord blood (CB) mononuclear cell (MNC), peripheral blood (PB) MNC, and PB CD34(+) cell cultures carried out in spinner flasks and in T-flasks in both serum-containing and serum-free media. Specific glucose uptake rates (q(gluc), in micromoles per cell per hour) and lactate generation rates (q(lac)) correlated with the percentage of colony-forming cells (CFC) present in the culture for a broad range of culture conditions. Specifically, the time of maximum CFC percentage in each culture coincided with the time of maximum q(gluc) and q(lac) in cultures with different seeding densities and cytokine combinations. A two-population model (Q(lac) = alpha[CFC] + beta([TC] - [CFC ]), where [TC] is total cell concentration; Q(lac) is volumetric lactate production rate in micromoles per milliliter per hour; alpha is q(lac) for an average CFC; and beta is q(lac) for an average non-CFC) was developed to describe lactate production. The model described lactate production well for cultures carried out in both T-flasks and spinner flasks and inoculated with either PB or CB MNC or PB CD34(+) cells. The values for alpha and beta that were derived from the model varied with both the inoculum density and the cytokine combination. However, preliminary results indicate that cultures carried out under the same conditions from different samples with similar initial CD34(+) cell content have similar values for beta and beta. These findings suggest that it should be possible to use lactate production data to predict the harvest time that corresponds to the maximum number of CFC in culture. The ability to harvest ex vivo hematopoietic cultures for transplantation when CFC are at a maximum has the potential to speed the rate at which immunocompromised patients recover. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 55: 693-700, 1997.     

造血细胞体外悬浮培养和生物反应器开发

为解决造血细胞的静态培养中由浓度梯度引起的培养不稳定、环境不均一、难放大等问题,首先采用转瓶对脐血单个核细胞进行了悬浮培养研究,结果表明,悬浮培养中总细胞、集落和CD34^＋细胞的扩增都高于静态的方瓶培养。在测试了所用材料生物相容性的基础上,开发了可以控制溶氧和pH的生物反应器,并将其应用到造血细胞的批培养中,结果表明反应器的培养环境均一,可实现较高密度的培养,而且总细胞、集落和CD34^＋细胞的扩增都优于静态培养。大规模的反应器培养有利于解决临床应用中细胞数量不足的问题。     

Ex vivo expansion of cord blood mononuclear cells on mesenchymal stem cells

BACKGROUND: Cord blood (CB) cells are being used increasingly as a source of hematopoietic cells to support high dose chemotherapy. However, CB units contain low numbers of cells, including CD34+ cells, and thus their use is associated with significant delays in engraftment of neutrophils and platelets. Exvivo expansion of CB has been proposed to increase the numbers of cells available. We and others have reported the requirement of CD34 selection for optimal expansion of CB products'; however, the selection of frozen CB products in clinical trials results in significant loss of CD34+ cells, with a median recovery of 50, but less than 40% recovery in more than one-third of products. In the present studies we evaluated the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to support ex vivo expansion of unselected CB products. METHODS: Mononuclear cells (MNC) from CB products were isolated and cultured on preformed MSC layers in T150 flasks containing 50 mL Stemline II media plus hematopoietic growth factors. Various culture conditions were compared for optimal expansion of the CB MNC. RESULTS: Ex vivo expansion of CB MNC on MSC resulted in 10- to 20-fold expansion of total nucleated cells, seven- to 18-fold expansion of committed progenitor cells, two- to five-fold expansion of primitive progenitor cells and 16- to 37-fold expansion of CD34+ cells. DISCUSSION: These studies demonstrated significant expansion of CB products without CD34 cell selection using culture conditions that are clinically applicable. Our current focus is to initiate clinical trials to evaluate the in vivo potential of CB cells expanded with these conditions.     

Hybridoma cell growth and anti-neuroblastoma monoclonal antibody production in spinner flasks using a protein-free medium with microcarriers

The main disadvantages of foetal calf serum as the world-wide common serum supplement for cell growth are its content of various proteins of variable concentrations between batches as well as its high cost. The use of serum-free and protein-free media is gradually becoming one of the goals of cell culture especially for standardizing culture conditions or for simple purification of cell products like monoclonal antibodies. The mouse hybridoma cells 14/2/1 were cultivated either in protein-free UltraDOMA medium or in serum-containing RPMI medium with and without microcarriers to generate high quantities of monoclonal antibodies against neuroblastoma tumour cells. Cell growth rate, IgG production, viability, glucose and lactate concentrations, attachment rate and doubling time have been used as investigation criteria. Modifications of culture procedures (static or stirred), inoculum density, and microcarrier concentration caused an improvement of monoclonal antibody production. The kinetics of antibody synthesis was best in spinner culture with 2 ml of microcarriers in protein-free medium. These results of short-term microcarrier culture in stirred spinner flasks indicate that IgG yields in protein-free medium 2.5-fold higher to those in serum-supplemented medium can be achieved.     

Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood in rotating wall vessel

Expansion of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB MNCs) was carried out in a rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor and tissue culture flasks (T-flasks) in serum-containing medium supplemented with relatively low doses of purified recombinant human cytokines (5.33 ng/ml IL-3, 16 ng/ml SCF, 3.33 ng/ml G-CSF, 2.13 ng/ml GM-CSF, 7.47 ng/ml FL and 7.47 ng/ml TPO) for 8 days. The cell density, pH and osmolality of the culture medium in the two culture systems were measured every 24h. Flow cytometric assay for CD34+ cells was carried out at 0, 144 and 197 h and methylcellulose colony assays were performed at 0, 72, 144 and 197 h. The pH and osmolality of the medium in the two culture systems were maintained in the proper ranges for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitors culture. The RWV bioreactor, combined with a cell-dilution feeding protocol, was efficient to expand UCB MNCs. At the end of 200 h culture, the total cell number was multiplied by 435.5+/-87.6 times, and CD34+ cells 32.7+/-15.6 times, and colony-forming units of granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) 21.7+/-4.9 times. While in T-flasks, however, total cells density changed mildly, CD34+ cells and CFU-GM decreased in number. It is demonstrated that the RWV bioreactor can provide a better environment for UCB MNCs expansion, enhance the contact between HSCs and accessory cells and make the utilization of cytokines more effective than T-flask.     

钙离子对293细胞结团和生长的影响

分别在有血清和无血清条件下、方瓶和转瓶中考察了Ca²⁺ 对2 93细胞结团和生长的影响。通过实验发现,Ca²⁺ 浓度在0 1～1 0mmol L范围内对2 93细胞的贴壁和结团性质有显著影响,而对生长影响不大。结果表明:有血清贴壁培养时,较高的Ca²⁺ 浓度有利于细胞贴壁;无血清悬浮培养中,Ca²⁺ 浓度越高,细胞结团越严重,细胞结团达到平衡后的平均粒径(D ,μm)与Ca²⁺ 浓度(c,mmol L)在0.1～0.5mmol L范围内可用一次函数D =58.65c +16.96描述,细胞结团尺寸是可调控的;而细胞在不同的Ca²⁺ 浓度下有相似的生长规律。     

Mouse embryonic stem cell expansion in a microcarrier-based stirred culture system

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the ability to differentiate in vitro into a wide variety of cell types with potential applications for tissue regeneration. However, a large number of cells are required, thus strengthening the need to develop large-scale systems using chemically defined media for ES cell production and/or controlled differentiation. In the present studies, a stirred culture system (i.e. spinner flask) was used to scale-up mouse ES (mES) cell expansion in serum-containing (DMEM/FBS) or serum-free medium, both supplemented with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), using either Cytodex 3 or Cultispher S microcarriers. After 8 days, maximal cell densities achieved were (1.9+/-0.1), (2.6+/-0.7) and 3.5x10(6)cells/mL for Cytodex 3 in DMEM/FBS, Cultispher S in DMEM/FBS and Cultispher S in serum-free cultures, respectively, with fold increases of 38+/-2, 50+/-15 and 70. Both microcarriers were suitable to sustain mES cell expansion, though the macroporous Cultispher S seemed to be advantageous in providing a more protective environment against shear stress forces, which harmful effects are exacerbated in serum-free conditions. Importantly, mES cells expanded under stirred conditions using serum-free medium retained their pluripotency and the ability to commit to the neural lineage.     

Scale-up of mouse embryonic stem cell expansion in stirred bioreactors

The aim of this study was to develop a robust, quality controlled and reproducible large-scale culture system using serum-free (SF) medium to obtain vast numbers of embryonic stem (ES) cells as a starting source for potential applications in tissue regeneration, as well as for drug screening studies. Mouse ES (mES) cells were firstly cultured on microcarriers in spinner flasks to investigate the effect of different parameters such as the agitation rate and the feeding regimen. Cells were successfully expanded at agitation rates up to 60 rpm using the SF medium and no significant differences in terms of growth kinetics or metabolic profiles were found between the two feeding regimens evaluated: 50% medium renewal every 24 h or 25% every 12 h. Overall, cells reached maximum concentrations of (4.2 ± 0.4) and (5.6 ± 0.8) ×10(6) cells/mL at Day 8 for cells fed once or twice per day; which corresponds to an increase in total cell number of 85 ± 7 and 108 ± 16, respectively. To have a more precise control over culture conditions and to yield a higher number of cells, the scale-up of the spinner flask culture system was successfully accomplished by using a fully controlled stirred tank bioreactor. In this case, the concentration of mES cells cultured on microcarriers increased 85 ± 15-fold over 11 days. Importantly, mES cells expanded under stirred conditions, in both spinner flask and fully controlled stirred tank bioreactor, using SF medium, retained the expression of pluripotency markers such as Oct-4, Nanog, and SSEA-1 and their differentiation potential into cells of the three embryonic germ layers.     

Ex vivo expansion of human umbilical cord blood hematopoietic progenitor cells in a novel three-dimensional culture system

A novel three-dimensional culture system for the ex vivo expansion of human umbilical cord blood (CB) hematopietic progenitor cells (HPCs) was developed by growing CB mononuclear cells on highly porous CultiSpher G microspheres coated with human bone marrow stromal cells in stirred flasks in the presence of supplemented cytokines. After 12 days, the number of total viable cells, colony-forming units in culture (CFU-C) and CD34⁺ cells present in the cultures reflected average increases of 7.7, 23.3 and 9.6-fold, respectively, and marked hematopoietic islands were formed on the surface of CultiSpher G.     

Suspended aggregates as an immobilization mode for high-density perfusion culture of HEK 293 cells in a stirred tank bioreactor

Cells of the human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK 293) grown in repeated suspension and perfusion systems were characterized and described. Cell aggregates that formed immediately after the HEK 293 cells were inoculated in stirred vessels in serum-containing Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (D-MEM)/F-12 medium. The mean diameter of the cell aggregates reflecting the aggregate size increased with culture time, shifting from 63 to 239 μm after 1 and 8 days of culture in spinner flasks, respectively. No significant differences in cell performance were observed between HEK 293 cell populations grown as suspended aggregates and those grown as anchored monolayers. Replacing the D-MEM/F-12 with CD 293 medium caused the compact spherical cell aggregates to dissociate into single cells and small irregular aggregates without any apparent effect on cell performance. Moreover, the spherical cell aggregates could reform from individual cells and small aggregates when exposed to the serum-containing D-MEM/F-12 dominant medium. Perfusion culture of HEK 293 cells grown as suspended aggregates in a 7.5-l stirred tank bioreactor for 17 days resulted in a maximum viable cell density of 1.2×10⁷ cells ml⁻¹. These results demonstrate the feasibility and proof-of-concept for using aggregates as an immobilization system in large-scale stirred bioreactors because a small-scale culture can be used as easily as the inoculum for larger bioreactors.The first two authors contributed equally to this work.     

Efficient suspension bioreactor expansion of murine embryonic stem cells on microcarriers in serum-free medium

Large numbers of cells will be required for successful embryonic stem cell (ESC)-based cellular therapies or drug discovery, thus raising the need to develop scaled-up bioprocesses for production of ESCs and their derived progeny. Traditionally, ESCs have been propagated in adherent cultures in static flasks on fibroblasts layers in serum-containing medium. Direct translation of two-dimensional flatbed cultures to large-scale production of the quantities of cells required for therapy simply by increasing the number of dishes or flasks is not practical or economical. Here, we describe successful scaled-up production of ESCs on microcarriers in a stirred culture system in a serum-free medium. Cells expanded on CultiSpher S, Cytodex 3, and Collagen microcarriers showed superior cell-fold expansions of 439, 193, and 68, respectively, without excessive agglomeration, compared with 27 in static culture. In addition, the ESCs maintained their pluripotency after long-term culture (28 days) in serum-free medium. This is the first time mESCs have been cultured on microcarriers without prior exposure to serum and/or fibroblasts, while also eliminating the excessive agglomeration plaguing earlier studies. These protocols provide an economical, practical, serum-free means for expanding ESCs in a stirred suspension bioprocess.     

Effects of oxygen on recombinant protein production by suspension cultures of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) insect cells.

Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) insect cells have been grown in serum-free medium in 250-ml spinner flasks. The maximum cell density obtained in these cultures was dependent on the aeration rate of the culture. Similar yields of uninfected cells were obtained when cultures were stirred in spinner flasks at 80 rev min-1 and in a 4-1 stirred-tank bioreactor and the dissolved oxygen in the bioreactor was controlled at 20% of air saturation. Cells were infected with a recombinant baculovirus at different multiplicities of infection: the timing and maximum level of expression of the recombinant protein were dependent on the multiplicity of infection, the cell density at infection, and on the aeration rate of the culture. Oxygen-limited growth resulted in undetectable levels of recombinant protein (< 6 ng recombinant protein 10(-7) cells). Compared with the maximum yields observed in spinner flask cultures, higher levels of recombinant protein were produced when cells were grown and infected in the bioreactor. The level of dissolved oxygen in the bioreactor was controlled at 50% of air saturation.     

Adaptation of mammalian cells to growth in serum-free media

A three-step protocol is described for adapting an anchorage-dependent, serum-dependent recombinant mammalian cell lineage to high density serum-free suspension culture. The objective is a cell lineage that is well-suited for the manufacture of a recombinant protein. The first step of the protocol generates an anchorage-independent cell lineage by culturing trypsin-treated cells in spinner flasks using serum-containing medium. The second step adapts the lineage to serum-free medium through a series of serum reduction steps in the presence of defined growth-promoting additives. The third step adapts the lineage to high-cell-density conditions by culturing the cells in a bioreactor in a manner that allows development of tolerance to growth-inhibiting substances released by the cells. Examples are presented for the use of this protocol for recombinant CHO cells.     

Erythropoietin production from CHO cells grown by continuous culture in a fluidized-bed bioreactor.

A Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line that expresses human erythropoietin (huEPO) was in a 2-L Cytopilot fluidized-bed bioreactor with 400 mL macroporous Cytoline-1 microcarriers and a variable perfusion rate of serum-free and protein-free medium for 48 days. The cell density increased to a maximum of 23 x 10(6) cells/mL, beads on day 27. The EPO concentration increased to 600 U/mL during the early part of the culture period (on day 24) and increased further to 980 U/mL following the addition of a higher concentration of glucose and the addition of sodium butyrate. The EPO concentration was significantly higher (at least 2x than that in a controlled stirred-tank bioreactor, in a spinner flask, or in a stationary T-flask culture. The EPO accumulated to a total production of 28,000 kUnits over the whole culture period. The molecular characteristics of EPO with respect to size and pattern of glycosylation did not change with scale up. The pattern of utilization and production of 18 amino acids was similar in the Cytopilot culture to that in a stationary batch culture in a T-flask. The concentration of ammonia was maintained at a low level (< 2 mM) over the entire culture period. The specific rate of consumption of glucose, as well as the specific rates of production of lactate and ammonia, were constant throughout the culture period indicating a consistent metabolic behavior of the cells in the bioreactor. These results indicate the potential of the Cytopilot bioreactor culture system for the continuous production of a recombinant protein over several weeks.     

Serum-free ex vivo expansion of CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells

In an effort to obtain defined culture conditions for ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells which avoid the supplementation of serum, we cultured human CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells in a chemically defined, serum-free medium in the presence of hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs), stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-3, IL-6, and erythropoietin (EPO). A medium, SFM-1, was prepared according to a protocol previously optimized for semisolid progenitor cell assays containing Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (IMDM) plus cholesterol, bovine serum albumin, transferrin, nucleotides and nucleosides, insulin, and beta-mercaptoethanol. In static cultures seeded with CD34(+)-enriched progenitor cells isolated from human peripheral blood, a mean 76.6-fold expansion of total nucleated cells and a mean 4.6-fold expansion of colony-forming cells (CFC) was recorded after 14 days. Morphological analysis of the expanded cells revealed formation of myeloid, erythroid, and megakaryocytic cells. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that CD34(+) antigen expressing cells were maintained to a limited degree only, and cell populations expressing surface markers for myeloid (CD33, CD14, and CD15) and megakaryocytic (CD41a) lineages predominated. Within SFM-1, bovine serum albumin (BSA), cholesterin, and transferrin represented the most critical components needed for efficient total cell and CFC expansion. Addition of autologous patient plasma (APP) or fetal calf serum (FCS) to SFM-1 resulted in inferior cell amplification and CFC formation compared to controls in SFM-1, indicating that the components used in SFM-1 could replace exogenous serum. Four commercially available serum-free media resulted in either comparable or lower total cell and CFC yields as SFM-1. The transplantation potential of CD34(+) cells after culture in SFM-1 was assayed using limiting dilution analysis on preformed irradiated bone marrow stroma and revealed maintenance of long-term bone marrow culture initiating cell (LTCIC) levels during the culture period. These data indicate that HGF-supported multilineage ex vivo expansion of human CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells is feasible using an IMDM-based culture medium which contains a restricted number of additives, resulting in analogous or improved yields of both primitive and differentiated cells compared to previously established protocols. We suggest that this culture protocol is of advantage when working with pharmaceutical-grade preparations under serum-free conditions.     

Surface immobilization of anchorage-dependent mammalian cells

Anchorage-dependent HeLa cells were successfully cultured on two fibrous materials (A07 and R100) with porosities of 75-125 and 40 mum, void fractions of 92% and 81%, and fiber diameters of 7.6 and 10.2 mum, respectively, in 100-mL spinner flasks and 2-L stirred tank bioreactors. The matrix was formed into a fixed vertical spiral configuration. All cultures displayed rapid (/=95%) to the matrix, uniform coverage of the immobilizing area with viable cells, and no significant amount of cell debris in the medium. Spinner flask cultures indicated that the denser material R100 showed better results in terms of final cell density. The growth of HeLa cells on material R100 in both culture systems was similar to that observed in tissue culture dishes (specific growth rate approximately 0.03-0.04 h(-1), maximum cell density of 8 x 10(6)-9 x 10(6) cells . mL(-1), and yields of 0.4 x 10(8) cells . mM(-1) on glucose and 2 x 10(8)-3 x 10(8) cells . mM(-1) on glutamine). Scale-up of this culture technique in a 2-L bioreactor under perfusion with pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) control yielded cell densities of up to 1.6 x 10(6) cells . mL(-1). Two other anchorage-dependent mammalian cells (ADC) known to be cultured with difficulty in roller bottles or with micro carriers were easily grown on material R100 in spinner flasks. The performance of this culture technique was compared to other ADC culture systems.     

Analysis of human TIE2 function on hematopoietic stem cells in umbilical cord blood

To investigate the behavior of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in cord blood (CB), we analyzed the expression and function of TIE2, a tyrosine kinase receptor. A subpopulation of Lineage (Lin)(-/low)CD34(+) cells in CB expressed TIE2 (18.8%). Assays for long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) and cobble-stone formation revealed that Lin(-/low)CD34(+)TIE2(+) cells showed to have a capacity of primitive hematopoietic precursor cells in vitro. When Lin(-/low)CD34(+)TIE2(+) cells were cultured on the stromal cells, they transmigrated under the stromal layers and kept an immature character for a few weeks. By contrast, Lin(-/low)CD34(+)TIE2(-) cells differentiated immediately within a few weeks. Finally, we confirmed that 1x10(4)Lin(-/low)CD34(+)TIE2(+) cells were engrafted in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice, while 1x10(4)Lin(-/low)CD34(+)TIE2(-) cells were not. Taken together, we conclude that TIE2 is a marker of HSCs in CB. A ligand for TIE2, Ang-1 promoted the adhesion of sorted primary Lin(-/low)CD34(+)TIE2(+) cells to fibronectin (FN), and this adhesion may play a critical role in keeping HSCs in an immature status under the stromal cells.     

Human mesenchymal stem cells support megakaryocyte and pro-platelet formation from CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells

Megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombocytopoiesis result from the interactions between hematopoietic progenitor cells, humoral factors, and marrow stromal cells derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or MSCs directly. MSCs are self-renewing marrow cells that provide progenitors for osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes, and marrow stromal cells. MSCs are isolated from bone marrow aspirates and are expanded in adherent cell culture using an optimized media preparation. Culture-expanded human MSCs (hMSCs) express a variety of hematopoietic cytokines and growth factors and maintain long-term culture-initiating cells in long-term marrow culture with CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells. Two lines of evidence suggest that hMSCs function in megakaryocyte development. First, hMSCs express messenger RNA for thrombopoietin, a primary regulator for megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombocytopoiesis. Second, adherent hMSC colonies in primary culture are often associated with hematopoietic cell clusters containing CD41(+) megakaryocytes. The physical association between hMSCs and megakaryocytes in marrow was confirmed by experiments in which hMSCs were copurified by immunoselection using an anti-CD41 antibody. To determine whether hMSCs can support megakaryocyte and platelet formation in vitro, we established a coculture system of hMSCs and CD34(+) cells in serum-free media without exogenous cytokines. These cocultures produced clusters of hematopoietic cells atop adherent MSCs. After 7 days, CD41(+) megakaryocyte clusters and pro-platelet networks were observed with pro-platelets increasing in the next 2 weeks. CD41(+) platelets were found in culture medium and expressed CD62P after thrombin treatment. These results suggest that MSCs residing within the megakaryocytic microenvironment in bone marrow provide key signals to stimulate megakaryocyte and platelet production from CD34(+) hematopoietic cells.