Expansion of CD34(+) cells from human umbilical cord blood by FL and/or TPO gene transfected human marrow stromal cell lines

• Published in: Science China. Life sciences 2001-10, Vol.44 (5), p.461-468
• Main Authors: Zhang, Y, Tang, P, Jin, Y, Li, X, Zhang, S, Wu, Y, Mao, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CD34 antigen; Cell culture; Cell lines; Cord blood; Interleukin 3; Progenitor cells; Stromal cells; Umbilical cord
• ISSN: 1006-9305; 1674-7305; 1862-2798; 1869-1889
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02882388

To elucidate the effect of gene transfected marrow stromal cell on expansion of human cord blood CD34(+) cells, a culture system was established in which FL and TPO genes were transfected into human stromal cell line HFCL. To establish gene transfected stromal cells co-culture system, cord blood CD34(+) cells were purified by using a magnetic beads sorting system. The number of all cells and the number of CD34(+) cells and CFC (CFU-GM and BFU-E) were counted in different culture systems. The results showed that in all 8 culture systems, SCF+IL-3+HFT manifested the most potent combination, with the number of total nucleated cells increasing by (893.3 +/-52.1)-fold, total progenitor cells (CFC) by (74.5 +/-5.2)-fold and CD34(+) cells by 15.7-fold. Maximal expansions of CFC and CD34(+) cells were observed at the end of the second week of culture. Within 14 days of culture, (78.1 +/- 5.5)-fold and (57.0 +/- 19.7)-fold increases in CFU-GM and BFU-E were obtained. Moreover, generation of LTC-IC from amplified CD34(+) cells within 28 days was found only in two combinations, i.e. SCF+IL-3+FL+TPO and SCF+IL-3+HFT, and there was no significant difference between these two groups statistically. These results suggest that human umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells can be extensively expanded ex vivo by using gene transfected stromal cells along with cytokines.