Chapter 13 - Clinical Grade Production of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Abstract

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been considered as one of the promising cell types in regenerative medicine. This chapter summarizes the current view on identity, expansion, characterization, and therapeutic use of human MSCs. The common MSC concept today is a multipotent cell easy to expand in culture, with regenerative, stromal supportive, and immunoregulatory capacities. The capacity of MSCs to proliferate and differentiate into osteoblasts and chondrocytes in vitro, together with immunosuppressive properties, has given them a central role within many biomedical research fields. MSCs serve as a fundamental part of tissue engineering, and provide promising therapeutic applications for tissue regeneration, autoimmunity, and inflammation. The main focus of this chapter is on bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs, with emphasis on clinical grade culture expansion for therapeutic and tissue engineering applications. Current methods for isolation, expansion, identification, and cryopreservation of human BM-MSCs are presented. The impact of different culture variables on the cell product, as well as donor-related variables, is discussed. Culture expansion induces changes in MSC properties, which can have varying effects depending on the application of the cells. The chapter aims at demonstrating how scientific knowledge is translated into clinical trials.