Korean J Blood Transfus.  2012 Aug;23(2):115-126.

Cryopreservation of Umbilical Cord as a Source of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Growth Factors

• Lee HR
• Roh EY
• Shin S
• Yoon JH
• Kim BJ
• Jeon HW

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Umbilical cord (UC) is a promising source of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We compared the characteristics of MSCs from cryopreserved UC with those from fresh tissues, and demonstrated the possibility of UC cryopreservation for acquisition of MSCs from cryopreserved UC.
METHODS
Each UC was sliced into two types (1~2 mm3 vs. 0.5 cm), and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen using different media (autologous cord blood plasma, aCBP vs. RPMI 1640). A fresh aliquot of 1~2 mm3-sized UC was used as control tissue. After one week, the cryopreserved tissues were thawed and cultured. For the 0.5 cm UC, a slicing step into 1~2 mm3 was needed. Cell count, viability, proliferative activity, and surface antigens were determined from harvested MSCs. Several growth factors (EGF, IGF-1, PDGF, TGF-beta, bFGF, and VEGF), were measured from the culture supernatant.
RESULTS
Eleven UC were enrolled in the study. Efficiencies of obtaining MSCs were higher in cryopreserved UC using RPMI 1640, compared with use of aCBP; the same result was observed for 0.5 cm sized UC, compared with 1~2 mm3 sized UC. No difference in proliferative activity was observed between MSCs from fresh and cryopreserved UC. The amount of growth factors in culture supernatant using RPMI 1640 was larger than that of fresh tissues.
CONCLUSION
We obtained growth factors from the supernatant as well as MSCs from cryopreserved UC. As with a cord blood bank, in the future, cryopreservation of UC for acquisition of both MSCs and growth factors would be possible in a time of need.

Keyword

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC); Umbilical cord; Cryopreservation

MeSH Terms

Antigens, Surface
Cell Count
Cryopreservation
Fetal Blood
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Nitrogen
Plasma
Transforming Growth Factor beta
Umbilical Cord
Antigens, Surface
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Nitrogen
Transforming Growth Factor beta