Source Of Cells For Transplantation Research Articles

Hyaluronan improves photoreceptor differentiation and maturation in human retinal organoids

Human stem cell-derived organoids enable both disease modeling and serve as a source of cells for transplantation. Human retinal organoids are particularly important as a source of human photoreceptors; however, the long differentiation period required and lack of vascularization in the organoid often results in a necrotic core and death of inner retinal cells before photoreceptors are fully mature. Manipulating the in vitro environment of differentiating retinal organoids through the incorporation of extracellular matrix components could influence retinal development. We investigated the addition of hyaluronan (HA), a component of the interphotoreceptor matrix, as an additive to promote long-term organoid survival and enhance retinal maturation. HA treatment had a significant reduction in the proportion of proliferating (Ki67+) cells and increase in the proportion of photoreceptors (CRX+), suggesting that HA accelerated photoreceptor commitment in vitro. HA significantly upregulated genes specific to photoreceptor maturation and outer segment development. Interestingly, prolonged HA-treatment significantly decreased the length of the brush border layer compared to those in control retinal organoids, where the photoreceptor outer segments reside; however, HA-treated organoids also had more mature outer segments with organized discs structures, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. The brush border layer length was inversely proportional to the molar mass and viscosity of the hyaluronan added. This is the first study to investigate the role of exogenous HA, viscosity, and polymer molar mass on photoreceptor maturation, emphasizing the importance of material properties on organoid culture. Statement of SignificanceRetinal organoids are a powerful tool to study retinal development in vitro, though like many other organoid systems, can be highly variable. In this work, Shoichet and colleagues investigated the use of hyaluronan (HA), a native component of the interphotoreceptor matrix, to improve photoreceptor maturation in developing human retinal organoids. HA promoted human photoreceptor differentiation leading to mature outer segments with disc formation and more uniform and healthy retinal organoids. These findings highlight the importance of adding components native to the developing retina to generate more physiologically relevant photoreceptors for cell therapy and in vitro models to drive drug discovery and uncover novel disease mechanisms.

Innovations in bio-engineering and cell-based approaches to address immunological challenges in islet transplantation.

Human allogeneic pancreatic islet transplantation is a life-changing treatment for patients with severe Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) who suffer from hypoglycemia unawareness and high risk of severe hypoglycemia. However, intensive immunosuppression is required to prevent immune rejection of the graft, that may in turn lead to undesirable side effects such as toxicity to the islet cells, kidney toxicity, occurrence of opportunistic infections, and malignancies. The shortage of cadaveric human islet donors further limits islet transplantation as a treatment option for widespread adoption. Alternatively, porcine islets have been considered as another source of insulin-secreting cells for transplantation in T1D patients, though xeno-transplants raise concerns over the risk of endogenous retrovirus transmission and immunological incompatibility. As a result, technological advancements have been made to protect transplanted islets from immune rejection and inflammation, ideally in the absence of chronic immunosuppression, to improve the outcomes and accessibility of allogeneic islet cell replacement therapies. These include the use of microencapsulation or macroencapsulation devices designed to provide an immunoprotective environment using a cell-impermeable layer, preventing immune cell attack of the transplanted cells. Other up and coming advancements are based on the use of stem cells as the starting source material for generating islet cells 'on-demand'. These starting stem cell sources include human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that have been genetically engineered to avoid the host immune response, curated HLA-selected donor hiPSCs that can be matched with recipients within a given population, and multipotent stem cells with natural immune privilege properties. These strategies are developed to provide an immune-evasive cell resource for allogeneic cell therapy. This review will summarize the immunological challenges facing islet transplantation and highlight recent bio-engineering and cell-based approaches aimed at avoiding immune rejection, to improve the accessibility of islet cell therapy and enhance treatment outcomes. Better understanding of the different approaches and their limitations can guide future research endeavors towards developing more comprehensive and targeted strategies for creating a more tolerogenic microenvironment, and improve the effectiveness and sustainability of islet transplantation to benefit more patients.

The fulfilled promise and unmet potential of umbilical cord blood.

Here, we review classic and emerging uses of umbilical cord blood and highlight strategies to improve its utility, focusing on selection of the appropriate units and cell types for the intended applications. Recent studies have shown advancements in cord blood cell utility in a variety of cellular therapies and have made strides in elucidating manners to select the best units for therapy and target new ways to improve the various cell subpopulations for their respective applications. Umbilical cord blood is a proven source of cells for hematopoietic cell transplantation and research and is an important potential source for additional cellular therapies. However, cord blood utility is limited by low "doses" of potent cells that can be obtained from individual units, a limitation that is specific to cord blood as a donor source. In addition to traditional CD34+ progenitor cells, cord blood lymphocytes are being pursued as therapeutic entities with their own unique properties and characteristics. Thus, selection of ideal units depends on the intended therapeutic entity and target, and identification of differential potency parameters is critical to drive effective banking strategies accommodating successful clinical use of cord blood in broader cell therapy settings.

The porcine islet-derived organoid showed the characteristics as pancreatic duct

Organoid is a tissue-engineered organ-like structure that resemble as an organ. Porcine islet-derived organoid might be used as an alternative donor of porcine islet xenotransplantation, a promising therapy for severe diabetes. In this study, we elucidated the characteristics of porcine islet organoids derived from porcine islets as a cell source for transplantation. Isolated porcine islets were 3D-cultured using growth factor-reduced matrigel in organoid culture medium consist of advanced DMEM/F12 with Wnt-3A, R-spondin, EGF, Noggin, IGF-1, bFGF, nicotinamide, B27, and some small molecules. Morphological and functional characteristics of islet organoids were evaluated in comparison with 2D-cultured islets in advanced DMEM/F12 medium. Relatively short-term (approximately 14 days)—cultured porcine islet organoids were enlarged and proliferated, but had an attenuated insulin-releasing function. Long-term (over a month)—cultured islet organoids could be passaged and cryopreserved. However, they showed pancreatic duct characteristics, including cystic induction, strong expression of Sox9, loss of PDX1 expression, and no insulin-releasing function. These findings were seen in long-term-cultured porcine islets. In conclusion, our porcine islet organoids showed the characteristics of pancreatic ducts. Further study is necessary for producing porcine islet-derived organoids having characteristics as islets.

Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation for Fanconi Anemia With a Special Focus on Late Complications: a Study on Behalf of Eurocord and SAAWP-EBMT

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) remains the sole available curative treatment for Fanconi anemia (FA), with particularly favorable outcomes reported after matched sibling donor (MSD) HCT. This study aimed to describe outcomes, with a special focus on late complications, of FA patients who underwent umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). In this retrospective analysis of allogeneic UCBT for FA performed between 1988 and 2021 in European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)-affiliated centers, a total of 205 FA patients underwent UCBT (55 related and 150 unrelated) across 77 transplant centers. Indications for UCBT were bone marrow failure in 190 patients and acute leukemia/myelodysplasia in 15 patients. The median age at transplantation was 9 years (range, 1.2 to 43 years), with only 20 patients aged >18 years. Among the donor-recipient pairs, 56% (n = 116) had a 0 to 1/6 HLA mismatch. Limited-field radiotherapy was administered to 28% (n = 58) and 78% (n = 160) received a fludarabine (Flu)-based conditioning regimen. Serotherapy consisted of antithymocyte globulin (n = 159; 78%) or alemtuzumab (n = 12; 6%). The median follow-up was 10 years for related UCBT and 7 years for unrelated UCBT. Excellent outcomes were observed in the setting of related UCBT, including a 60-day cumulative incidence (CuI) of neutrophil recovery of 98.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 93.9% to 100%), a 100-day CuI of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of 17.3% (95% CI, 9.5% to 31.6%), and a 5-year CuI of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) of 22.7% (95% CI, 13.3% to 38.7%; 13% extensive). Five-year overall survival (OS) was 88%. In multivariate analysis, none of the factors included in the model predicted a better OS. In unrelated UCBT, the 60-day CuI of neutrophil recovery was 78.7% (95% CI, 71.9% to 86.3%), the 100-day CuI of grade II-IV aGVHD was 31.4% (95% CI, 24.6% to 40.2%), and the 5-year CuI of cGVHD was 24.3% (95% CI, 17.8% to 32.2%; 12% extensive). Five-year OS was 44%. In multivariate analysis, negative recipient cytomegalovirus serology, Flu-based conditioning, age <9 years at UCBT, and 0 to 1/6 HLA mismatch were associated with improved OS. A total of 106 patients, including 5 with acute leukemia/myelodysplasia, survived for >2 years after UCBT. Nine of these patients developed subsequent neoplasms (SNs), including 1 donor-derived acute myelogenous leukemia and 8 solid tumors, at a median of 9.7 years (range, 2.3 to 21.8 years) post-UCBT (1 related and 8 unrelated UCBT). In a subset of 49 patients with available data, late nonmalignant complications affecting various organ systems were observed at a median of 8.7 years (range, 2.7 to 28.8 years) post-UCBT. UCB is a valid source of stem cells for transplantation in patients with FA, with the best results observed after related UCBT. After unrelated UCBT, improved survival was observed in patients who underwent transplantation at a younger age, with Flu-based conditioning, and with better HLA parity. The incidence of organ-specific complications and SNs was relatively low. The incidence of SNs, mostly squamous cell carcinoma, increases with time. Rigorous follow-up and lifelong screening are crucial in survivors of UCBT for FA.

Cell Transplantation for Repair of the Spinal Cord and Prospects for Generating Region-Specific Exogenic Neuronal Cells.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with currently irreversible consequences in several functional components of the central nervous system. Despite the severity of injury, there remains no approved treatment to restore function. However, with a growing number of preclinical studies and clinical trials, cell transplantation has gained significant potential as a treatment for SCI. Researchers have identified several cell types as potential candidates for transplantation. To optimize successful functional outcomes after transplantation, one key factor concerns generating neuronal cells with regional and subtype specificity, thus calling on the developmental transcriptome patterning of spinal cord cells. A potential source of spinal cord cells for transplantation is the generation of exogenic neuronal progenitor cells via the emerging technologies of gene editing and blastocyst complementation. This review highlights the use of cell transplantation to treat SCI in the context of relevant developmental gene expression patterns useful for producing regionally specific exogenic spinal cells via in vitro differentiation and blastocyst complementation.

Induced pluripotent stem cells as tool for cornea study in regenerative medicine

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells technology as tool for cornea study in regenerative medicine.The ocular surface consists of an epithelial surface with specialized regions, including cornea lacrimal gland and conjunctiva. Altogether, these regions play a role in vision maintenance by transmitting light and, as first eye layer, ensure protection for the whole eye.These major roles are subject to defective developments or imbalanced maintenance, due to genetic variants or cellular degeneration, respectively, causing vision‐related problems. Intensive research is performed world‐wide to develop new therapies for such vision defects by using in vitro models, but lack of eye donations or low viability is an obstacle for such assays. At the same time, variability among donors on their genetic or epigenetic background is the main barrier for reproducibility, in addition to advanced age of donor, which is a factor limiting cell expansion or present a high number of senescent cells.A promising approach is to use stem cells to generate ocular surface cells or tissue, by mimicking the embryo development. It exists multiple sources of stem cells able to in vitro models, adult corneal cells isolated from biopsies have the advantage to resemble the organ source, but the collection has the disadvantage to be invasive. An alternative and highly valuable approach to generate organoid is from pluripotent stem cells, carrying the potential to differentiate into most cell types of the body and are subdivided into embryonic stem cells, derived from the inner cell mass of preimplantation embryos, and induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) reprogrammed from adult cells.As IPSCs are one of the most promising approaches to counteract this lack of donations, several assays were performed to select the best conditions to generate cornea cells. The main goal is to characterize the developmental procedure by growth factors modulation and assess the maturation degree for the final product. The most important aspect to generate such final product is the heterogeneity of cell population during differentiation or maturation, as epithelial cornea layer has a different cell origin in comparison to stroma or endothelial cornea.Once differentiation and maturation are achieved, this in vitro model can be used for multiple downstream applications. As therapeutic approaches, organoids can be used as a living biobank or to model corneal diseases, either by using cells from affected patients or by base editing, introducing a causative mutation into the genome. Either patient‐derived or control organoids have the high potential to develop gene therapy, optogenetics, be a source of transplantable cells to replace generating tissue or screen small molecules treatments.For this topic, we will focus on the IPSC technology to derive cornea tissue and its perspective for eye development studies, clinical or preclinical study by comparing the methodology depending of the potential applications.

Unrevealing Hematopoietic Reconstruction Discrepancies after Allo-UCBT and Allo-PBSCT at Single Cell Resolution

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) and G-CSF mobilizing peripheral blood stem cell (G-PBSC) are the main sources of hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation on clinic. Clinical data have shown that hematopoietic reconstruction in allogeneic cord blood transplantation (allo-UCBT) is significantly delayed compared with allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT), suggesting that the cellular composition and reconstruction dynamics of UCB are significantly different from that of G-PBSC. Following on the heels of our recently study that found HSC/MPPs show differentiation bias to megakaryocytic-erythroid lineage and strong proliferation tendency, and defined a neutrophil progenitor population named S100A hi Neu2 which is inversely associated with the incidence of GVHD after allo-PBSCT (Yingying Huo et al, Science Immunology 2023), we next aimed to analyze the differences of hematopoietic reconstitution between allo-UCBT and allo-PBSCT and the causes of delayed hematopoietic reconstitution after allo-UCBT. In this study, we collected peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples from 8 patients with bone marrow failure syndrome (BMFs) who received allo-UCBT (n=4) or allo-PBSCT (n=4) at different time points (d14, d21, d30, d60, d90, d180, d365) after transplantation. At the same time, UCB, G-PBSC and BM of normal children were collected as controls. Lin -CD34 + cells from BM, G-PBSC and UCB were separated by FACS for STRT-seq, the total nucleated cells (TNCs) of all samples were isolated for 10X transcriptome sequencing. We used 276628 hematopoietic cells to map the single cell transcriptome profiles of hematopoietic reconstruction by different transplantation methods and annotated 44 cell types. Compared with the G-PBSC, the immunogenicity of HSC/MPPs in Lin -CD34 + cells derived from UCB decreased, the proportion increased, and the differentiation bias of HSC/MPPs to monocytic and erythroid lineage was stronger, but the differentiation ability to myeloid and megakaryocytic lineage was decreased, the proportion of EBM, MEP and CMP decreased. For TNCs, the proportion of T cells and NK cells increased, and NK_CD56dim_CD16 had a stronger immune function. Compared with allo-PBSCT, the differentiation of HSC/MPPs and CMP into neutrophils in the early stage after allo-UCBT was weakened. The proportion of MEP cells decreased, and the differentiation ability of HSC/MPPs to MEP, HSC/MPPs and MEP to Mk was weakened. In summary, we found that the delayed reconstruction of neutrophils and platelets in patients with allo-UCBT are related to the nature of the graft, suggesting the importance of reasonable intervention of HSC derived from UCB to accelerate platelet implantation.

Constructing a Machine Learning-Based Rating Model to Predict the Outcome of GCSF Mobilization of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Peripheral Blood

Objective Peripheral blood stem cells serve as the primary source of hematopoietic stem cells for both autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stands as the most commonly employed mobilizing agent in clinical practice. While the majority of donors receiving G-CSF mobilization demonstrate high mobilization efficiency, there remains a subset of donors who fail to yield a sufficient quantity of hematopoietic stem cells. Inefficient mobilization not only leads to wastage of valuable resources but also significantly impacts transplant outcomes for recipients. Therefore, addressing the challenges associated with predicting mobilization outcomes, optimizing donor selection strategies, and further enhancing mobilization approaches is of paramount importance. Methods In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of mobilization data from 1008 donors who underwent hematopoietic stem cell mobilization using G-CSF at the Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, over the past 5 years. We meticulously examined the correlation between mobilization outcomes (quantified by the quantity of collected CD34+ cells) and various factors, including mobilizing agent usage, demographic data, complete blood count, and blood biochemistry. Furthermore, we harnessed the power of machine learning algorithms, such as linear regression, decision tree, and AdaBoost, to develop a robust scoring model capable of predicting mobilization outcomes. The primary objective of this model is to furnish a predictive tool for assessing mobilization outcomes with accuracy and precision. Results (1) Prior to receiving G-CSF, several factors exhibited a significant positive correlation with the quantity of CD34+ cells in the collection: donor's body weight (R=0.37, p&amp;lt;0.001), peripheral blood leukocytes (R=0.24, p&amp;lt;0.001), hemoglobin (R=0.23, p&amp;lt;0.001), monocytes (R=0.22, p&amp;lt;0.001), lymphocytes (R=0.18, p&amp;lt;0.001), platelets (R=0.18, p&amp;lt;0.001), red blood cells (R=0.12, p&amp;lt;0.001), neutrophils (R=0.15, p&amp;lt;0.001), hematocrit (R=0.21, p&amp;lt;0.001), mean corpuscular-hemoglobin concentration (R=0.15, p&amp;lt;0.001), low-density lipoprotein (R=0.11, p&amp;lt;0.01), albumin (R=0.09, p&amp;lt;0.05), ferritin (R=0.19, p&amp;lt;0.001), triglycerides (R=0.17, p&amp;lt;0.001), creatinine (R=0.17, p&amp;lt;0.001), and uric acid (R=0.29, p&amp;lt;0.001). (2) Age exhibited a significant negative correlation with the quantity of collected CD34+ cells in the collection (R=-0.11, p&amp;lt;0.001). (3) When the total dose of G-CSF administration was fixed, mobilization with twice-daily dosing yielded superior results compared to once-daily dosing (collected CD34+ cell count: 1268/μl vs. 1044/μl, p&amp;lt;0.001). (4) The ratio of G-CSF dosage to body weight demonstrated a significant negative correlation with the quantity of CD34+ cells (R=-0.09, p&amp;lt;0.01). Mobilization with a ratio of 6-7 μg/kg/day showed better results compared to a ratio of 7-12 μg/kg/day (p=0.07). (5) A scoring model was developed using machine learning methods to predict the mobilization outcomes of donors. Validation on the test dataset exhibited a high predictive ability of the model (AUC&amp;gt;0.7). Conclusion This study provides valuable insights for selecting hematopoietic stem cell donors and serves as a reference for future strategies aimed at improving mobilization outcomes. The identified factors, such as donor weight, peripheral blood parameters, G-CSF dosing regimen, and the ratio of dosage to body weight, can be considered when selecting donors and optimizing mobilization protocols. By incorporating machine learning techniques, a scoring model was developed, demonstrating a high predictive ability that can assist in forecasting mobilization outcomes for potential donors. These findings contribute to the optimization of donor selection and mobilization strategies.

Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Poor Mobilization of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in a Colombian Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: mobilized peripheral hematopoietic stem cells (PHSC) are the main cell source for autologous bone marrow transplantation. Failure to mobilize an appropriate number of PHSC can jeopardize autologous bone marrow transplantation procedure. Objective: our aim was to describe the clinical and demographics characteristics, the incidence of mobilization failure and the prevalence of risks factors for poor mobilization in patients in whom PHSC mobilization were attempted for autologous bone marrow transplantation between January 1st 2017 and 31 December 2022. A univariate and multivariate analysis (binary logistic regression) were done to determinate the association between risk factors and mobilization failure. Results: 129 patients were included , the patients median age was 54 years. Indications for autologous bone marrow transplantation were multiple myeloma in 50,4 %, lymphoma in 46,5 % and systemic sclerosis in 2,3 % of patients respectively. Mobilization was attempted with Filgrastim in 71,1 %, Filgrastim plus Plerixafor in 26,6 % and chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide) plus Filgrastim in 2,3 % of patients respectively. Mobilization failure occurred in 9,3 % of patients (12 patients) occurring in 11 % of patients who received Filgrastim, in 5,6 % who received Filgrastim plus Plerixafor and in none of patients who received chemotherapy plus Filgrastim. No difference in mobilization failure was found between patients who received Filgrastim monotherapy versus those who received Filgrastim plus Plerixafor ( χ 2 p=0,388, relative risk: 1,8, confidence interval 95% 0,43 - 8,1). Patients who received Filgrastim plus Plerixafor had been treated more frequently (four of more cycles of Lenalidomide) compared with patients who received Filgrastim alone (63,3 % versus 18,7 %, χ 2 p &amp;lt; 0,001, RR=4,01, CI 95 %; 2,32-6,87).The median age of patients was superior in patients who received Filgrastim plus Plerixafor compared with those who received Filgrastim (58 vs 51 years, U Mann Whitney p = 0,02). The median number of treatment lines tended to be superior in patients receiving Filgrastim plus Plerixafor compared to those receiving Filgrastim (2 lines versus 1 line of therapy, U Mann Withney p= 0,054). Patients who had been treated with intensive chemotherapy regimens like DHAP, ESHAP or Hyper CVAD (p=0,004, RR: 4,3, CI 1,5-12,3)) and patients older than 60 years (p=0,018, RR: 3,4 (1,2-9,85)) were significant more prone to mobilization failure in bivariate and multivariate analysis. Conclusion: mobilization failure occurred in 9,3 % of patients , Filgrastim monotherapy was more frequently used, no difference in mobilization failure was found between those who received Filgrastim versus Filgrastim plus Plerixafor, history of treatment with more than 4 cycles of lenalidomide and older age were more frequently in patients who received Filgrastim plus Plerixafor. History of a treatment intensive chemotherapy regimen and being older than 60 years were consistently associated with mobilization failure in univariate and multivariate analysis.

Immunology of cord blood T-cells favors augmented disease response during clinical pediatric stem cell transplantation for acute leukemia.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been an important and efficacious treatment for acute leukemia in children for over 60 years. It works primarily through the graft-vs.-leukemia (GVL) effect, in which donor T-cells and other immune cells act to eliminate residual leukemia. Cord blood is an alternative source of stem cells for transplantation, with distinct biological and immunological characteristics. Retrospective clinical studies report superior relapse rates with cord blood transplantation (CBT), when compared to other stem cell sources, particularly for patients with high-risk leukemia. Xenograft models also support the superiority of cord blood T-cells in eradicating malignancy, when compared to those derived from peripheral blood. Conversely, CBT has historically been associated with an increased risk of transplant-related mortality (TRM) and morbidity, particularly from infection. Here we discuss clinical aspects of CBT, the unique immunology of cord blood T-cells, their role in the GVL effect and future methods to maximize their utility in cellular therapies for leukemia, honing and harnessing their antitumor properties whilst managing the risks of TRM.

Abstract 17 Umbilical Cord Blood Collection. How Do Different Factors Affect CD45 Cell Viability in Our Experience?

Abstract Introduction Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an important source of hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation in some hematological diseases. One of the main factors influencing sample quality and transplantation success, in addition to histocompatibility, is the number of viable CD34+ cells. Over the years, different factors that could directly affect viability have been studied and evaluated. It is important to be able to define favorable ranges for obtaining high viabilities and optimal samples for their use. Objectives The aim of our study is to evaluate the incidence of three factors temperature during transport, volume and time between collection and process of UCB over cellular viability previous to cryopreservation. Methods We analyzed 10483 UCB samples collected between 2018 and 2022. Cell viability values were analyzed in total CD45 using flow cytometry with 7-AAD and Annexin V. We evaluated the relationship between cell viability with the three factors mentioned above. Results We observed a tendency for viability to decrease as the blood volume collected decreases, and as the temperature and elapsed hours increase. In concordance, we found that viability is dependent on the 3 factors analyzed (p &amp;lt;&amp;lt;0.001), observing that its variability can be explained in 4% by the variation of elapsed hours as well as the collection volume, while temperature explains this variation in 1%. Discussion With our samples we can assume that the variations in the ranges analyzed would not affect them to a great extent, since they are not determinant for obtaining an average viability lower than that established as acceptable in our bank (75%). On the other hand, we also conclude that viability cannot be explained from the variation of a single factor, so it would be important to analyze the interactions between them. For the time being, and in order to improve the quality of the samples, we consider it necessary to emphasize the collection of a good volume of blood and the rapid transport of the samples for processing.

Development of an in-house bone marrow collection kit: The Catalan bone marrow transplantation group experience.

Bone marrow (BM) harvesting is one of the essential sources of stem cells for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In 2019, commercial BM collection kits became unavailable in Europe. Consequently, we created an in-house BM collection kit as an alternative. We compared two groups of BM collections. The first collections were taken using an in-house kit from June 2022 through February 2023 and the second with a commercial kit from February 2021 through May 2022. These all took place at seven collection centres (CC). We analysed the harvest quality (cell blood count, CD34+ cells, viability, potency and sterility), the incidents occurring with each kit and the time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment in recipients. A total of 23 donors underwent BM harvesting with the in-house kit and 23 with the commercial one. Both cohorts were comparable regarding donor characteristics, CC and time to procedure. No statistical differences were found in harvest quality between the in-house and commercial kits. A new transfusion set was required in three BM harvests (13%) with the in-house kit because of filter clogging. The median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment was 21 days for both cohorts and 29 days (in-house) and 33 days (commercial), p = 0.284, respectively. The in-house BM collection kit offers a real approach to solve the diminished supply of commercial kits. A higher risk of filter clogging was observed compared with commercial kits due to the lack of 850 and 500 μm filters.

IPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting inflammatory signaling and oxidative stress

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) hold great promise as a cell source for transplantation into injured tissues to alleviate inflammation. However, the therapeutic efficacy of iMSC transplantation for ischemic stroke remains unknown. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of iMSC transplantation on brain injury after ischemia-reperfusion using a rat transient middle cerebralartery occlusion model and compared its therapeutic efficacy with that of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs). We showed that iMSCs and BMMSCs reduced infarct volumes after reperfusion and significantly improved motor function on days 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 and cognitive function on days 28 and 56 after reperfusion compared with the vehicle group. Furthermore, immunological analyses revealed that transplantation of iMSCs and BMMSCs inhibited microglial activation and expression of proinflammatory cytokines and suppressed oxidative stress and neuronal cell death in the cerebral cortex at the ischemic border zone. No difference in therapeutic effect was observed between the iMSC and BMMSC groups. Taken together, our results demonstrate that iMSC therapy can be a practical alternative as a cell source for attenuation of brain injury and improvement of neurological function because of the unlimited supply of uniform therapeutic cells.

Pancreatic Islet Transplantation in Patients suffering from Type 1 diabetes - Indications, methods, possible risks and future directions: A literature review

&#x0D; Introduction: Type 1 diabetes is a common and debilitating disease that requires regular glycemic control to prevent potentially fatal hypoglycemia.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Objective: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the purpose, process, and consequences of pancreatic islet transplantation in patients with type 1 diabetes. Additionally, the results of the procedure after several years are described based on the available publications.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Materials and Methods: The authors created a summary of available publications on pancreatic islet transplantation, based on databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar. Using the terms listed in the "key words" section, the authors searched for relevant information in other scientific papers to create the following review. &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusions: Reducing the number of donors and developing alternative sources of pancreatic islet cells for transplantation is an active area of research, that promises to expand access and indications for pancreatic islet transplantation in future diabetes treatment.&#x0D;

Efficacy and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia patients aged &gt; 65 years with unfavorable cytogenetics

Unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation (UR-BMT), unrelated donor cord blood stem cell transplantation (UR-CBT), and haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (Haplo-PBSCT) are the main alternative stem cell sources for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in Japan. The present study aimed to identify factors associated with the outcomes of UR-BMT, UR-CBT, and Haplo-PBSCT in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and intermediate- or poor-risk cytogenetics to improve the clinical efficacy and safety of allogeneic HCT. We retrospectively analyzed data for 448 AML patients aged > 65 years who received UR-BMT (n = 102), UR-CBT (n = 250), or Haplo-PBSCT (n = 96) between 2014 and 2020. Overall survival (OS) in the UR-BMT group was superior (P = 0.033) to that in the other groups. However, all patients without complete remission (non-CR) who had Karnofsky performance status (KPS) < 80 at HCT and poor-risk cytogenetics died within 1 year after HCT. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified KPS <80 at HCT and poor-risk cytogenetics as independent predictors of worse OS in non-CR patients. KPS < 80 may be an alternative indicator for non-CR AML patients with poor-risk cytogenetics during the selection of HCT, alternative treatments, or best supportive therapy, and the optimal KPS is important for the success of HCT.

Barriers and facilitators to cord blood banking among pregnant women at a university obstetric clinic.

Cord blood (CB) is a cell source for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In 2019, the percentage of births with CB collected for banking was only 3% nationally and 0.05% in our state. To increase CB donations, we need to understand pregnant women's awareness and knowledge of, plus barriers and facilitators to, CB banking (CBB). We recruited 289 women in their third trimester from an academic obstetric clinic between October 2020 and May 2021. Women attending this clinic come from all parts of the state in addition to local city residents. After agreeing to participate, participants completed a survey using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). Data were analyzed using SAS version 9.4. Exactly 58.9% of participants had heard of CBB, but only 26.53% understood its purpose; 10.03% indicated someone had discussed CBB with them, and 61.3% were undecided about it. The preferred source of information was the clinic provider (82.1%), followed by CB bank staff (36.8%). The requested mode for receiving information was face-to-face with their provider, including written materials. Income, education, and marital status did not have a significant influence on information preferences. Lack of knowledge continues to be a major barrier to CBB. Developing educational interventions based on womens' preferences may increase understanding of CBB. Study participants preferred that the healthcare provider deliver this information. This study was done in a primarily rural, southern state, while previous studies were in larger metropolitan areas, yet results are comparable.

The efficiency of a continuous versus an intermittent apheresis method for collection of hematopoietic progenitor stem cells: A systematic review.

Peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor stem cells (HPSCs) are the most common source of stem cells for autologous and allogenic transplantation. Currently, systematic reviews comparing the collection efficiency of a continuous to an intermittent method are lacking despite the existence of primary studies. Therefore, the objective of this review was to synthesize the best available evidence to compare the efficiency of the continuous vs the intermittent method for the collection of hematopoietic progenitor stem cells required for HPC transplantation. A search using MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Google scholar, and MedNar for both published and unpublished studies was conducted in December 2021. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with JBI methodology. A critical appraisal of the studies was undertaken by two independent reviewers using the JBI quasi-experimental critical appraisal checklist. A total of six studies were included in the review. The findings of this review demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference in the collection efficiency, length of procedure time, and total blood volume processed between the continuous and intermittent programs. The evidence suggests that the continuous method is as safe and effective as the intermittent method to collect HPSCs. Until further evidence becomes available clinicians should be guided by the policies of their individual hospitals.

Nucleated red blood cell: a feasible quality parameter of cord blood units

IntroductionUmbilical cord blood is an alternative source of hematopoietic progenitor cells for bone marrow transplantation; however, it is associated with a higher graft failure rate. The presence of a high rate of nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) seems to be related to a greater capacity for engraftment, although is also associated with fetal distress conditions. We analyzed the correlation of the NRBC with quality parameters and its association with the utilization score of a cord blood unit. Study design and methodData of 3346 units collected in a public cord blood bank from May 2010 to December 2017 were analyzed, retrospectively, to identify factors associated with an increased number of nucleated red blood cells and its correlation with the engraftment capacity measured through total nucleated cells (TNCs) and CD34 positive cells. We also evaluated the utilization score of these units and identified an NRBC cutoff associated with a higher score. ResultsThe median volume collected was 104 mL (42–255), the pre-processing TNC count was 144.77 × 107 (95.46–477.18), the post-processing TNC count was 119.44 × 107 (42.7–477.18), the CD34 count was 4.67 × 106 (0.31–48.01), the NRBC count was 5 (0–202) and the utilization score was 0.0228 (0.00143–0.9740). The NRBC showed a correlation with the collected volume, TNC and CD34 positive cells and a higher utilization score and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified the five NRBC/100 leukocytes cutoff that correlates better with the probability of use. No association with pathological conditions and the NRBC rate was observed. ConclusionsThe NRBC is a feasible parameter for the screening of the cord blood unit (CBU) and the minimum cutoff of five NRBC/100 leukocytes can be a strategy in conjunction with the TNC to identify better units for cord blood bank sustainability.

Induction of Angiogenesis by Genetically Modified Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells

Stimulating the process of angiogenesis in treating ischemia-related diseases is an urgent task for modern medicine, which can be achieved through the use of different cell types. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) continues to be one of the attractive cell sources for transplantation. The goal of this study was to investigate the role and therapeutic potential of gene-engineered umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB-MC) as a forward-looking strategy for the activation of angiogenesis. Adenovirus constructs Ad-VEGF, Ad-FGF2, Ad-SDF1α, and Ad-EGFP were synthesized and used for cell modification. UCB-MCs were isolated from UCB and transduced with adenoviral vectors. As part of our in vitro experiments, we evaluated the efficiency of transfection, the expression of recombinant genes, and the secretome profile. Later, we applied an in vivo Matrigel plug assay to assess engineered UCB-MC's angiogenic potential. We conclude that hUCB-MCs can be efficiently modified simultaneously with several adenoviral vectors. Modified UCB-MCs overexpress recombinant genes and proteins. Genetic modification of cells with recombinant adenoviruses does not affect the profile of secreted pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, except for an increase in the synthesis of recombinant proteins. hUCB-MCs genetically modified with therapeutic genes induced the formation of new vessels. An increase in the expression of endothelial cells marker (CD31) was revealed, which correlated with the data of visual examination and histological analysis. The present study demonstrates that gene-engineered UCB-MC can be used to stimulate angiogenesis and possibly treat cardiovascular disease and diabetic cardiomyopathy.