BACKGROUND: The utility of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in therapeutic applications for regenerative medicine has gained much attention. Clinical translation of MSC-based approaches requires in vitro culture-expansion to achieve a sufficient number of cells. The ideal cell culture medium should be devoid of any animal derived components. We have evaluated whether human Platelet Lysate (hPL) could be an attractive alternative to animal supplements.

METHODS: MSCs from bone marrow (BMSCs) and adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ASCs) obtained from three donors were culture expanded in three different commercially available hPL fulfilling good manufacturing practice criteria for clinical use. BMSCs and ASCs cultured in Minimum Essential Medium Eagle-alpha supplemented with 5% PLT-Max (Mill Creek), Stemulate™ PL-S and Stemulate™ PL-SP (COOK General Biotechnology) were compared to standard culture conditions with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Cell morphology, proliferation, phenotype, genomic stability, and differentiation potential were analyzed.

RESULTS: Regardless of manufacturer, BMSCs and ASCs cultured in hPL media showed a significant increase in proliferation capacity compared to FBS medium. In general, the immunophenotype of both BMSCs and ASCs fulfilled International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) criteria after hPL media expansion. Comparative genomic hybridization measurements demonstrated no unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements for BMSCs or ASCs cultured in hPL media or FBS medium. The BMSCs and ASCs could differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic, or chondrogenic lineages in all four culture conditions.

CONCLUSION: All three clinically approved commercial human platelet lysates accelerated proliferation of BMSCs and ASCs and the cells meet the ISCT mesenchymal phenotypic requirements without exhibiting chromosomal aberrations.