Adipose- and Bone Marrow-Derived hMSCs: What's the Difference?

INTRODUCTION:

Human Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells, or hMSC, are key components of future therapeutics, engineered tissues, and medical devices and are currently in use in over 400 clinical trials (1). Bone marrow-derived MSC (hBM-MSC) have historically been the most widely used hMSC, but hMSC can be isolated from many tissues of the body including fat, umbilical cord blood, dental pulp, Wharton’s jelly, and peripheral blood. In recent years, human Adipose (or fat) tissue-derived MSC (hAD-MSC) are increasingly used in studies due to adipose tissue having a higher frequency of MSC than bone marrow and the relative ease of collection (2). You can find more information on hMSC by following these links:

•      What are MSCs
•      MSCs: The Workhorse of Regenerative Medicine
•      Widespread MSC Misconceptions
•      Using MSCs to Beat Cancer

A common MSC misconception is that MSC isolated from different tissues are equivalent. hAD-MSC and hBM-MSC, and cells from other tissues, can meet the “traditional” ISCT criteria to identify a cell as an MSC (3,4): adherence to plastic, characteristic surface marker expression profiles (positive for CD73, CD90, CD105; negative for CD34, CD45), and trilineage differentiation to fat, bone, and cartilage.  However, there is widespread acceptance that hMSC achieve their biologic and therapeutic effects in vivo by secreting many bioactive molecules (referred to as the hMSC secretome) that moderate a variety of processes including angiogenesis, immunosuppression, and overall “tissue repair” (5). Despite being similar overall, hMSC isolated from adipose and bone marrow display some differences in functional capabilities (2,6). For example, hBM-MSC are more robust in bone and cartilage differentiation than hAD-MSC and hAD-MSC are more efficient at stimulating angiogenesis than hBM-MSC (2,6,7).

We have recently been applying our manufacturing protocols to adipose-derived hMSC (our newest product) and would like to share some of the similarities and differences in function between hBM-MSC and hAD-MSC that we have observed when these cells are cultured in our media systems with our protocols.  Both populations of hMSC have been manufactured using our GMP-compatible and scalable manufacturing processes, with standardized procedures and with rigorous quality control.  By reporting the differential functional characteristics of these hMSC populations, we assist our customers in making more informed choices on the cell type best-suited to their application(s).

METHODS AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:

Materials & Reagents:  Cell culture reagents, excluding RoosterBio materials, were purchased from Life Technologies, chemicals and reagents for kynurenine measurement were from Sigma, and cultureware was from Corning.  Two vials (1 million cells each) of hAD-MSC, representing two donors, were purchased from ZenBio, and used only for comparison. Other cell products used were RoosterBio hMSC products: Bone Marrow-derived MSC (hBM-MSC, part # MSC-001, MSC-003) and Adipose-derived MSC (hAD-MSC, part # MSC-020, MSC-021). Cells were cultured in RoosterBio High Performance Media (part # KT-001) or DMEM + 10% FBS

Methods: All methods for the analyses shown below are documented under RoosterBio’s Quality Control systems.  For more information, please contact us at info@roosterbio.com.  Detailed methods for priming hMSC can be found in a previous blog post here.

RESULTS:

NIST Workshop Aims to Educate on Improving Confidence in Measurements Critical for Cell Therapy Products

We are always looking for ways to enable the commercialization of Cell-based Therapies and Technologies.  The ultimate success of the field is dependent on the convergence of several technology fields, and one that isn't given sufficient attention is the Measurement Sciences (or metrology).  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a Biosystems and Biomaterials Division that has several projects focused on their mission of "Building Confidence in Biological Measurements", and they have several people that are working to advance measurements in regenerative medicine.

The NIST BioSystems and Biomaterials Division has several projects related to stem cells and regenerative medicine.

On May 11&12, NIST will be holding a workshop focused on Measurement Assurance for Cell Therapy Products.  The Registration for the workshop is open and is limited to the first 100 registrants, and the Agenda (below) has speakers from Industry, the FDA, NIST, as well as several breakout workshops to focus on some of the analytics that are the low hanging fruit to bring standardization too.

The adage of "Measure Twice, Cut Once" only holds true if you have robust and precise methods and assays, and solid reference standards for which everyone can compare.  Our previous posts on Regenerative Medicine Standardization, and of course the great content on this at the Stem Cell Assays blog are good places for background reading for those interested.