ABSTRACT
Objective: The diverse clinical applications for human mesenchymal stem cells [hM- SCs] in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine warrant increased focus on developing adequate culture supplements devoid of animal-derived products. In the present study, we have investigated the feasibility of umbilical cord blood-platelet lysate [UCB-PL] as a standard substitute for fetal bovine serum [FBS] and human peripheral blood-PL [PB-PL]
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, platelet concentrates [PC] from UCB and human PB donors were frozen, melted, and sterilized to obtain PL. Quality control included platelet cell counts, sterility testing [viral and microbial], total protein concentrations, growth factor levels, and PL stability. The effects of UCB-PL and PB-PL on hMSCs proliferation and differentiation into osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes were studied and the results compared with FBS
Results: UCB-PL contained high levels of protein content, platelet-derived growth factor-AB [PDGF-AB], and transforming growth factor [TGF] compared to PB-PL. All growth factors were stable for at least nine months post-storage at -70?C. hMSCs proliferation enhanced following treatment with UCB-PL. With all three supplements, hMSCs could differentiate into all three lineages
Conclusion: PB-PL and UCB-PL both were potent in hMSCs proliferation. However, PB promoted osteoblastic differentiation and UCB-PL induced chondrogenic differentiation. Because of availability, ease of use and feasible standardization of UCB-PL, we have suggested that UCB-PL be used as an alternative to FBS and PB-PL for the cultivation and expansion of hMSCs in cellular therapy