原位胶原酶循环灌注法分离猪肝细胞

本文建立了原位胶原酶循环灌注分离猪肝细胞方法并与离体两步胶原酶灌注法进行了比较。猪门静脉和下腔静脉分剐插管,先用D-Hanks液灌注,再采用自制的循环灌流装置进行胶原酶循环原位灌注分离猪肝细胞,分离后的肝细胞以5×105/ml培养,观察分离和培养7d的肝细胞产量、活率、蛋白质合成功能、葡萄糖合成功能和LDH含量。同时测定离体组的上述指标。研究结果表明采用原位胶原酶循环灌注法每克肝组织分离获得的肝细胞总量为5.1×107,肝细胞活率98.6％,培养7d肝细胞活率89.5％。肝细胞的蛋白质合成功能在培养7d中保持稳定;葡萄糖合成功能从1d时1.05±0.15nmol/cell下降到3d时0.74±0.09nmol/cell;LDH含量在3d较高。原位胶原酶循环灌注法分离的猪肝细胞总量、活率高于离体法;蛋白质合成功能和葡萄糖合成功能强于离体法。因此,原位胶原酶循环灌注分离猪肝细胞方法可获得大量高活率和良好功能的猪肝细胞。     

无血清培养高密度乳猪肝细胞的形态和功能变化

本文研究了无血清培养高密度猪肝细胞的形态和功能变化。将分离的肝细胞以高密度(1×10~7/ml)培养在含激素、多种生长因子和营养成分的无血清培养基中,动态观察培养7天中肝细胞形态、活率、蛋白质合成功能、G-6-Pase活性、安定转化功能及LDH含量;同时以无血清培养低密度(5×10~5/ml)肝细胞作为对照组。研究结果表明:高密度培养的 肝细胞各项功能较低密度培养的肝细胞为低;高密度培养的肝细胞的形态、蛋白质合成功能在培养7天中保持稳定;活率随着培养时间的延长而下降,但均高于90％;安定转化功能在培养第2、3天最强;G-6-Pase活性在培养1天后明显下降,然后维持在较低水平;LDH含量在第1、2、3天较高。     

肝脏缺血预处理对肝细胞分离、冻存效果的影响

大量研究表明,对肝脏进行缺血预处理（ischemic preconditioning,IPC）对肝脏保护有重要意义,IPC能够提高肝脏对缺血再灌注损伤的耐受能力.但IPC对分离后的肝细胞是否具有同样的保护作用,目前尚无报道.本研究旨在明确在对大鼠肝细胞分离以前对大鼠肝脏进行缺血预处理是否可以提高肝细胞分离和冻存的效果.在本研究中,30只SD大鼠,随机分为3组（G1,G2,G3）,在对大鼠肝脏进行分离以前,对G2和G3组大鼠分别进行5和10min的缺血预处理,10min后再进行肝细胞分离,G1组大鼠则不进行特殊处理.分离后,比较各组肝细胞产量及存活率.将所得的肝细胞分别冻存14,28天后进行肝细胞的复苏,对各组肝细胞的存活率、细胞活性（四唑盐比色实验）、冻存液LDH漏出浓度3项指标进行对比分析.研究发现,缺血预处理组的大鼠肝细胞（G2,G3）在肝细胞的活率、MTT实验、冻存液的LDH浓度测定等方面均优于对照组.由此可见,在肝细胞分离之前,对肝脏实施缺血预处理能够明显提高所分离肝细胞的存活率,还可以提高肝细胞短期内的冻存效果.但相对大鼠肝脏进行缺血预处理的时间,5和10min并没有明显的统计学差异.     

基于电容测定的罗汉果细胞超低温保藏快速方法

建立了一种基于活细胞电容值定量测定的植物细胞超低温保藏的快速评价方法,优化了罗汉果细胞超低温保藏方法。通过采用活细胞传感仪测定冻存后细胞的存活率并结合细胞生活力(细胞线粒体活性/TTC)对罗汉果细胞的低温保藏过程进行优化,确定了罗汉果细胞较为适宜的冷冻保护剂组分为基本培养基中添加10%的蔗糖和10%的DMSO。预处理剂的考察实验表明,采用0.2 mol/L蔗糖的预处理剂处理细胞时冻存后细胞存活率和细胞活力较高;采用0.2 mol/L蔗糖预处理剂处理细胞时,随着预处理时间的增加,细胞存活率先增加后降低,预处理时间为9 h时,细胞存活率和细胞活力最高。保藏后的细胞复苏实验结果表明:细胞存活率与采用活细胞电容值得到的细胞存活率具有很好的一致性,同时经过冻存的细胞复苏培养后,仍保留了原始细胞的形态和合成甜苷V的特性,说明该冻存方法适用于罗汉果细胞的超低温保藏。因此基于活细胞传感仪测得的电容值进行细胞冻存过程细胞活性的快速评价方法具有较好的可行性和可靠性。     

犊牛肝细胞的分离与原代培养

以初生犊牛作肝细胞供者,采用稍加改良的两步胶原酶灌流法和一步灌流结合组织块消化法分离获取肝细胞,并进行原代培养;以台盼蓝染色法测细胞活力,在倒置显微镜下观察肝细胞形态变化,采用Beckman全自动生化分析仪检测较好培养体系不同时间培养上清液中白蛋白、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、尿素的含量。结果显示,相比较于一步灌流结合组织块消化法,胶原酶消化法所获取的肝细胞形态完整、贴壁良好、活性高、功能强;LDH漏出量、白蛋白分泌及尿素合成等指标在1周内呈现规律性变化,第3和第4天时LDH漏出量最低,白蛋白分泌及尿素合成功能正常,表明所分离的肝细胞在培养第3￣4天功能最佳。     

不同冻存条件对甘蔗原生质体活力和再生能力的影响

为了获得活力高和再生能力强的甘蔗原生质体,该文对甘蔗原生质体的冻存液浓度、冻存温度和冻存部位进行了研究。结果表明:(1)不同的冻存液、不同的冻存温度和不同的取材部位原生质体冻存后复苏对甘蔗原生质体的活力影响有显著差异性,三个冻存液组合比较,在组合2(70%培养基+20%血清+10%DMSO),冻存30 d后复苏活力最强,高达72%;冻存90 d内复苏,-196℃液氮和-80℃冰箱冻存,甘蔗原生质体的活力差异不显著,活力均在75%以上,但90 d冻存后复苏,-196℃液氮冻存后复苏比-80℃冰箱冻存冻存后复苏原生质活力强;不同取材部位比较,幼叶冻存30 d后复苏所得原生质体活力较高(达79. 2%),茎尖冻存30 d后复苏所得原生质体活力仅为42.7%。(2)不同的冻存液和不同的冻存温度,细胞第一次启动分裂和形成细胞团的时间差异不显著,一般培养5～6 d,细胞壁基本形成完整,培养6 d后,细胞启动分裂,培养15 d后形成细胞团。不同的材料部位相比较,茎尖酶解所得原生质体再生能力最强,较幼叶酶解原生质体,形成细胞壁的时间早3 d,第一次分裂时间早2 d。     

冻存密度对外周血单个核细胞冻存效果的影响

探讨冻存密度对外周血单个核细胞(Peripheral blood mononuclear cell,PBMC)冻存效果的影响。设定新鲜PBMC组(F组)及3个PBMC冻存密度组即2.0×10~7/mL(A组),4.0×10~7/mL(B组),6.0×10~7/mL(C组)。通过对冻存前后的PBMC活率及复苏后多种细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞(Cytokine-induced killer,CIK)的扩增倍数、淋巴细胞亚群、体外杀伤效率进行比较,验证其冻存效果。结果显示,冻存前F组与冻存后A组、B组、C组的细胞活率分别为(96.0±0.3)%、(95.6±0.4)%、(94.7±0.2)%和(94.9±0.4)%,B组与C组显著低于A组,P0.05;细胞扩增14 d后,F组与A组、B组、C组细胞扩增倍数分别为(156.4±18.2)倍、(160.2±28.4)倍、(126.1±19.8)倍和(110.4±11.3)倍,B组与C组显著低于F组(P0.05);PBMC冻存前复苏后淋巴细胞亚群结果无显著差异。与F组相比,A组、B组、C组细胞扩增14 d后,CD3+、CD3+CD4+、CD3+CD8+、CD3-CD56+、CD3+CD56+淋巴细胞亚群无显著差异(P0.05),体外杀伤效率无显著差异(P0.05)。过高的冻存密度会影响PBMC冻存效果而间接影响细胞的复苏应用,而过低的冻存密度则增加冻存体积而大大提高冻存成本,因此,选择合适的细胞冻存密度是细胞库或细胞银行必须要考虑的问题。     

低浓度二甲基亚砜保护SSMC7721细胞冻存后活力

目的研究二甲基亚砜作为冻存保护剂对SSMC7721细胞冻存复苏后细胞生长相对活力和凋亡的影响。方法选择传代培养处于对数生长期SSMC7721细胞,体积分数2%、5%、10%和20%DMSO分别冻存10d、30d后复苏,采用倒置显微镜形态学观察、MTT法测定细胞相对活力、流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡,综合分析不同浓度DMSO冻存不同时间复苏对SSMC7721的影响。结果各浓度DMSO冻存SSMC7721对细胞生长和凋亡均有影响。20%DMSO对SSMC7721细胞影响明显,细胞培养不易贴壁逐渐脱落,浓度低于5%时,细胞生长状态良好;10%和20%DMSO细胞相对活力急剧下降;随着DMSO浓度增加和冻存时间延长,细胞凋亡率明显上升,存活率明显下降,5%DMSO冻存的凋亡率10.24%,20%DMSO冻存的凋亡率93.49%。结论 2%~5%DMSO冻存肝癌SSMC7721细胞,复苏后培养有较好的细胞相对活力,能有效减少细胞凋亡,起到的冻存保护剂作用。     

人乳头瘤病毒特异性T细胞系细胞冻存后细胞的存活率及功能

研究人乳头瘤病毒特异性T细胞系细胞冻存后细胞的存活率及功能。应用包含10%二甲基亚砜、90%小牛血清的冻存液冻存6个T细胞系(5个CD4 T细胞系,1个CD8 T细胞系)细胞,液氮中冻存32~54个月后复苏,台盼蓝染色法检测复苏后T细胞系细胞的存活率,用酶联免疫斑点法(enzyme-linked immunospot assay,ELISPOT)检测复苏后T细胞系细胞的功能。结果显示,6个T细胞系细胞液氮冻存解冻后细胞的存活率为24.7%~93.5%,过夜培养后细胞的存活率为2.5%~72.2%。CD8 T细胞系细胞的存活率高于CD4 T细胞系细胞。6个复苏后的T细胞系细胞在PHA诱导后均能分泌IFN-γ。人乳头瘤病毒特异性T细胞系细胞冻存复苏后能够保持较好的存活率和功能。     

谷胱甘肽与富氢冻存液在鸡血细胞冻存中的保护作用

目的通过观察细胞冷冻复苏后的存活率及凋亡情况,探讨细胞冻存液中添加谷胱甘肽(GSH)和氢气(H_2)对细胞的保护作用。方法在冻存液中添加GSH和/或通入H_2后冻存鸡血细胞,1个月后复苏,采用台盼蓝拒染和MTT法分别检测细胞存活率与细胞活性,流式细胞仪检测细胞的凋亡率。结果 GSH、H_2或H_2+GSH处理使细胞活力明显提高,而早期凋亡率明显降低。结论谷胱甘肽与富氢冻存液对鸡血细胞冻存具有保护作用。     

Cryopreservation of Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) Pig Islet Cells: Effect of Culture Time before Cryopreservation and after Thawing

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal conditions (effect of culture time before and after cryopreservation) for cryopreservation of specific pathogen-free pig islet cells. METHODS: (1) Glucose-induced insulin secretion by fresh islet cells cultured for 10 days was compared to that by islet cells cryopreserved 7 days after isolation and cultured 3 days after thawing. (2) Islet cells were cryopreserved 1, 7, or 14 days after isolation and cultured 3, 7, 14, or 21 days after thawing. Islet cell number, insulin content, and insulin response under perifusion tests were investigated. RESULTS: (1) Insulin response by cryopreserved islet cells was identical to that by fresh islet cells (basal/stimulation index: 2. 13 +/- 0.19 vs 2.17 +/- 0.16, n = 4, NS), although the amount of secreted insulin was reduced by 40% (area under the curve: 2136 +/- 198 pM/10(4) cells/180 min vs 3564 +/- 636 pM/10(4) cells/180 min, P = 0.104). (2) Cell number 6 days after thawing was reduced by 54, 40, and 63% when cryopreservations were carried out at D1, D7, and D14. (3) Insulin content in cultured or cryopreserved islet cells increased between 7 and 14 days of culture. (4) Whatever the culture time before and after cryopreservation, insulin secretion in response to glucose was maintained. The insulin release was the highest for islet cells cryopreserved 14 days after isolation and cultured 14 days after thawing (stimulation index: 6.19 +/- 2.68). CONCLUSIONS: SPF pig islet cells remained functional after cryopreservation in polyethylene glycol and it may be important to culture islet cells over 14 days before and after cryopreservation.     

Viability,proliferation and phenotype maintenance in cryopreserved human iliac apophyseal chondrocytes

Cryopreservation preserves cells at low temperature and creates a reserve for future use while executing the clinical translation. Unlike articular chondrocyte, cryopreservation protocol and its outcome are not described in iliac apophyseal chondrocytes, a potential source of chondrocytes in cartilage engineering. This study for the first time describes the cryopreservation of human iliac apophyseal chondrocytes. Four cartilage samples were procured from iliac crests of children undergoing hip surgery after consent. The total chondrocyte yield was divided into two groups. First group was grown as monolayer while second group was cryopreserved following the slow cooling method in the medium containing 10 % Dimethyl sulfoxide for 3 months. Group two cells were also grown as a monolayer following thawing. Viability, time to confluence, population doubling time and phenotype maintenance were compared for both the groups. Viability was 65.75 % after 3 months of cryopreservation at ?196 °C, as compared to 94.19 % for fresh chondrocytes (p = 0.001). Fresh and cryopreserved cells reached confluence on 10th and 15th day of culture respectively. Population doubling time was significantly more in fresh than cryopreserved chondrocytes on 10th (p = 0.0006) and 15th day (p = 0.0002) in culture. Both fresh and cryopreserved cells maintain their chondrocyte phenotype as assessed by immunocytochemistry. Relative gene expression by real time polymerase chain reaction showed similar upregulation of mRNA of Collagen 2, SOX 9, Aggrecan and Collagen 1 in cryopreserved chondrocyte as compared to fresh chondrocyte. Iliac apophyseal chondrocytes cryopreserved for 3 months maintained the phenotype successfully 2 weeks after thawing in culture. The viability and proliferation rates after thawing were adequate for a clinical translation of these cells.     

Phase I and II metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism in cultured cryopreserved porcine hepatocytes

Primary porcine hepatocytes were cryopreserved using freezing boxes or a programmable freezer (PF). Upon thawing and culturing in 12-well plates cryopreserved hepatocytes were compared with their fresh controls on days 1 and 2 after plating. Cryopreserved hepatocytes attached approximately as well as fresh hepatocytes and useful cultures were obtained. In cryopreserved hepatocytes, coumarin 7-hydroxylation, 6beta-testosterone hydroxylation and p-nitrophenol glucuronidation were reduced to about 10-40, 35 and 40%, respectively, compared to their fresh counterparts. Glycogen synthesis in cryopreserved hepatocytes was reduced to about 30% on day 1 of culture and about 47% on day 2 of culture compared to the synthesis in fresh hepatocytes. Both fresh and cryopreserved hepatocytes increased the synthesis by twofold in response to stimulation with insulin. Reduced basal levels of glycogen and of glycogen synthesis could be explained by an increased energy demand in cryopreserved hepatocytes needing to repair damages caused by cryopreservation. Glycogenolysis was reduced to about 50% in cryopreserved hepatocytes and gluconeogenesis to about 40% of the glucose production in fresh hepatocytes. In both fresh and cryopreserved hepatocytes the glucose production from glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, respectively, was increased fourfold in response to stimulation with glucagon. Overall, the hepatocytes cryopreserved in boxes had a tendency to perform better than hepatocytes cryopreserved in a programmable freezer. In conclusion, the cryopreserved hepatocytes were metabolic active; however, to a lower extent than the fresh hepatocytes, although, the cryopreserved hepatocytes responded as well as the fresh hepatocytes to insulin and glucagon.     

Long-term cryopreservation of reaggregated pancreatic islets resulting in successful transplantation in rats

Preservation of pancreatic islets for long-term storage of islets used for transplantation or research has long been a goal. Unfortunately, few studies on long-term islet cryopreservation (1 month and longer) have reported positive outcomes in terms of islet yield, survival and function. In general, single cells have been shown to tolerate the cryopreservation procedure better than tissues/multicellular structures like islets. Thus, we optimized a method to cryopreserve single islet cells and, after thawing, reaggregated them into islet spheroids. Cryopreserved (CP) single human islet cells formed spheroids efficiently within 3–5 days after thawing. Approximately 79% of islet cells were recovered following the single-cell cryopreservation protocol. Viability after long-term cryopreservation (4 weeks or more) was significantly higher in the CP islet cell spheroids (97.4 ± 0.4%) compared to CP native islets (14.6 ± 0.4%). Moreover, CP islet cell spheroids had excellent viability even after weeks in culture (88.5 ± 1.6%). Metabolic activity was 4–5 times higher in CP islet cell spheroids than CP native islets at 24 and 48 h after thawing. Diabetic rats transplanted with CP islet cell spheroids were normoglycemic for 10 months, identical to diabetic rats transplanted with fresh islets. However, the animals receiving fresh islets required a higher volume of transplanted tissue to achieve normoglycemia compared to those transplanted with CP islet cell spheroids. By cryopreserving single cells instead of intact islets, we achieved highly viable and functional islets after thawing that required lower tissue volumes to reverse diabetes in rats.     

Effects of precryopreservation culture on survival of rat islets transplanted after slow cooling and rapid thawing

Despite the frequent use of in vitro tissue culture before islet cryopreservation, no study has evaluated the ability of this procedure to improve the recovery or in vivo function of frozen-thawed islets. To evaluate this, quantities of 2500 Wistar-Furth (WF) rat islets were allocated to each of four groups (n = 8 each): group 1, freshly isolated; group 2, 48 hr in vitro culture; group 3, cryopreservation; group 4, cryopreservation after 48 hr in culture. Islets were frozen slowly at 0.25 degrees C/min and thawed rapidly at 200 degrees C/min. The number of islets recovered after culture or cryopreservation was determined and viability was assessed by measuring weekly indices of plasma glucose (PG), urine glucose (UG), urine volume (UV), and weight after implantation into the portal vein of streptozotocin-diabetic WF recipients. Islet recovery was 97% after culture, 95% after cryopreservation, and 94% after culture-then cryopreservation. After implantation of group 1 and 2 islets, PG was less than 150 mg/dl at 1 week and UG and UV were normal by 1-2 weeks. Group 3 islets restored normoglycemia at 3 weeks and other indices of diabetes were reversed by 4 weeks; group 4 islets restored normoglycemia at 4 weeks and indices returned to basal after 4 weeks. At intravenous glucose tolerance testing (ivGTT), the K values (mean decline in glucose, %/min, +/- SE) were group 1, 1.6 +/- 0.3; group 2, 1.5 +/- 0.3; group 3, 0.6 +/- 0.1; and group 4, 0.7 +/- 0.2. These data show that cryopreservation preserves freshly isolated or cultured islets that reverse the indices of diabetes after implantation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A new approach to the cryopreservation of hepatocytes in a sandwich culture configuration

Current methods of cryopreservation of hepatocytes in single cell suspensions result in low overall yields of hepatocytes, demonstrating long-term preservation of hepatocellular functions. A novel culture method has recently been developed to culture liver cells in a sandwich configuration of collagen layers in order to stabilize the phenotypic expression of these cells in vitro (J. C. Y. Dunn, M. L. Yarmush, H. G. Koebe, and R. G. Tompkins, FASEB J. 3, 174, 1989). Using this culture system, rat hepatocytes were frozen with 15% (v/v) Me2SO to -70 degrees C, and stored at approximately -100 degrees C. Following rapid thawing, long-term function was assessed by measuring albumin secretion in culture for 7-14 days postfreezing. Comparison was made with cryopreservation of liver cells in single cell suspensions. Cryopreservation of liver cells in suspension resulted in only a 2% yield of cells which could be successfully cultured; albumin secretion rates in these cultured cells over 48 hr were 26-30% of secretion rates for nonfrozen hepatocytes. Freezing cultured liver cells in the sandwich configuration after 3, 7, and 11 days in culture maintained 0, 26, and 19% of the secretion rates of nonfrozen hepatocytes, respectively. Morphology of the cryopreserved cells appeared grossly similar to cells without freezing; however, this morphological result was patchy and represented approximately 30% of the cells in culture. These results represent the first demonstration of any quantitative long-term preservation of hepatocellular function by cryopreservation, suggesting that cultured hepatocytes can survive freezing and maintain function.     

Cryopreservation of viable hepatocyte monolayers in cryoprotectant media with high serum content: metabolism of testosterone and kaempherol post-cryopreservation

Little work in the literature focuses on the cryopreservation of primary hepatocytes as monolayer cultures, yet this technique offers many distinct advantages over other cryopreservation systems, including high recovery, high post-thaw nutrient penetration, and low numbers of trapped dead cells. This article investigates the cryopreservation of primary rat hepatocytes at -78 degrees C attached as monolayers to collagen coated culture dishes, and describes efforts to increase post-thaw viability and function through manipulation of the freeze/thaw protocol. Different concentrations of foetal calf serum (FCS) with 10% (v/v) dimethyl sulphoxide (ME2SO) were tested as cryopreservation media, and high cryoprotectant serum levels were found to be important in maintaining membrane integrity and function in the cryopreserved rat hepatocyte monolayer cultures. Cultures cryopreserved with 90% (v/v) FCS plus 10% (v/v) ME2SO maintain 79.7+/-6.5% of the monolayer area as viable cells with normal morphology (by image analysis), 112.7+/-14.2% protein concentration, 55.4+/-4.2% carboxyfluorescein diacetate de-acetylation, 27.2+/-7.5% kaempherol glucuronidation (a measure of UDP-glucuronosyl transferase activity), and 39.3+/-7.3% testosterone hydroxylation (a measure of cytochrome P-450 activity) compared with non-cryopreserved controls. This method of cryopreservation may provide a simple, convenient means of long-term storage of hepatocytes for in vitro metabolism studies.     

Thawed human hepatocytes in primary culture.

In drug metabolism studies, isolated and cultured human hepatocytes provide a useful model for overcoming the difficulty of extrapolating from animal data. In vitro studies with human hepatocytes are scarce because of the lack of livers and suitable methods of storage. After developing a new method for cryopreservation of human hepatocytes, we evaluated the effects of deep freezing storage on their viability, morphology, and functional and toxicological capabilities in classical culture conditions. Freshly isolated human hepatocytes were cryopreserved in medium containing 10% Me2SO and 20% fetal calf serum, using a Nicool ST20 programmable freezer (-1.9 degrees C/min for 18 min and -30 degrees C/min for 4 min). Cells were stored in liquid nitrogen. Viability of thawed human hepatocytes was 50-65% as assessed by erythrosin exclusion test prior to purification on a Percoll density gradient. Morphological criteria showed that thawed human hepatocytes require an adaptation period to the medium after seeding. Functional assessments showed that human hepatocytes which survive freezing and thawing preserve their protein synthesis capabilities and are able to secrete a specific protein, anionic peptidic fraction, which is involved in the hepatic uptake of bile-destined cholesterol. We then studied Midazolam biotransformation to test metabolic functions, and erythromycin toxicity by Neutral Red test (cell viability) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide test (cell metabolism). All of these experiments indicated that thawed human hepatocytes should be used 38 h after seeding for optimum recovery of their functions: membrane integrity, protein synthesis, and stabilization of drug metabolism enzymes.     

Cryopreservation of isolated rat hepatocytes: a critical evaluation of freezing and thawing conditions

Various parameters, including the nature and proportion of the constituents of the cryoprotective medium, the cooling rate, and the composition of the thawing medium, were evaluated for the cryopreservation of adult rat hepatocytes. The highest percentage of cells able to survive in culture was obtained by freezing in L15 medium containing 16% dimethyl sulfoxide, at a rate of 3 degrees C/min, and by adding 0.8 M glucose to the thawing medium. More than 50% of hepatocytes capable of attachment just after cell isolation kept this property after freezing and survived in primary culture. Dead cells could be eliminated before seeding by centrifugation on a Percoll layer. In culture, frozen cells exhibited a morphology similar to that of unfrozen cells and after 24 hr their protein secretion rate was reduced by only about 40%.     

Cryopreservation by slow cooling with DMSO diminished production of Oct-4 pluripotency marker in human embryonic stem cells

We tested a "standard" cryopreservation protocol (slow cooling with 10% DMSO) on the human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line H9 containing an Oct-4 (POU5F1) promoter-driven, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter to monitor maintenance of pluripotency. Cells were cooled to -80 degrees C in cryovials and then transferred to a -80 degrees C freezer. Cells were held at -80 degrees C for 3 days ("short-term storage") or 3 months ("long-term storage"). Vials were thawed in a +36 degrees C water bath and cells were cultured for 3, 7, or 14 days. Propidium iodide (PI) was used to assess cell viability by flow cytometry. Control cells were passaged on the same day that the frozen cells were thawed. The majority of cells in control hESC cultures were Oct-4 positive and almost 99% of EGFP+ cells were alive as determined by exclusion of PI. In contrast, the frozen cells, even after 3 days of culture, contained only 50% live cells, and only 10% were EGFP-positive. After 7 days in culture, the proportion of dead cells decreased and there was an increase in the Oct-4-positive population but microscopic examination revealed large patches of EGFP-negative cells within clusters of colonies even after 14 days of culturing. After 3 months of storage at -80 degrees C the deleterious effect of freezing was even more pronounced: the samples regained a quantifiable number of EGFP-positive cells only after 7 days of culturing following thawing. It is concluded that new protocols and media are required for freezing hESC and safe storage at -80 degrees C as well as studies of the mechanisms of stress-related events associated with cell cryopreservation.