Humanized large-scale expanded endothelial colony-forming cells function in vitro and in vivo

Blood. 2009 Jun 25;113(26):6716-25. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-09-181362. Epub 2009 Mar 25.

Abstract

Endothelial progenitor cells are critically involved in essential biologic processes, such as vascular homeostasis, regeneration, and tumor angiogenesis. Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) are endothelial progenitor cells with robust proliferative potential. Their profound vessel-forming capacity makes them a promising tool for innovative experimental, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies. Efficient and safe methods for their isolation and expansion are presently lacking. Based on the previously established efficacy of animal serum-free large-scale clinical-grade propagation of mesenchymal stromal cells, we hypothesized that endothelial lineage cells may also be propagated efficiently following a comparable strategy. Here we demonstrate that human ECFCs can be recovered directly from unmanipulated whole blood. A novel large-scale animal protein-free humanized expansion strategy preserves the progenitor hierarchy with sustained proliferation potential of more than 30 population doublings. By applying large-scale propagated ECFCs in various test systems, we observed vascular networks in vitro and perfused vessels in vivo. After large-scale expansion and cryopreservation phenotype, function, proliferation, and genomic stability were maintained. For the first time, proliferative, functional, and storable ECFCs propagated under humanized conditions can be explored in terms of their therapeutic applicability and risk profile.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells / enzymology
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Separation / methods
  • Cells, Cultured / cytology
  • Cells, Cultured / enzymology
  • Cells, Cultured / transplantation
  • Clone Cells / cytology
  • Clone Cells / enzymology
  • Colony-Forming Units Assay
  • Cryopreservation
  • Culture Media
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Endothelial Cells / enzymology
  • Fetal Blood / cytology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / enzymology
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / etiology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic
  • Telomere / metabolism
  • Telomere / ultrastructure
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Culture Media