Human adipose stromal cells (ASC) for the regeneration of injured cartilage display genetic stability after in vitro culture expansion

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 28;8(10):e77895. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077895. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal cells are emerging as an extremely promising therapeutic agent for tissue regeneration due to their multi-potency, immune-modulation and secretome activities, but safety remains one of the main concerns, particularly when in vitro manipulation, such as cell expansion, is performed before clinical application. Indeed, it is well documented that in vitro expansion reduces replicative potential and some multi-potency and promotes cell senescence. Furthermore, during in vitro aging there is a decrease in DNA synthesis and repair efficiency thus leading to DNA damage accumulation and possibly inducing genomic instability. The European Research Project ADIPOA aims at validating an innovative cell-based therapy where autologous adipose stromal cells (ASCs) are injected in the diseased articulation to activate regeneration of the cartilage. The primary objective of this paper was to assess the safety of cultured ASCs. The maintenance of genetic integrity was evaluated during in vitro culture by karyotype and microsatellite instability analysis. In addition, RT-PCR array-based evaluation of the expression of genes related to DNA damage signaling pathways was performed. Finally, the senescence and replicative potential of cultured cells was evaluated by telomere length and telomerase activity assessment, whereas anchorage-independent clone development was tested in vitro by soft agar growth. We found that cultured ASCs do not show genetic alterations and replicative senescence during the period of observation, nor anchorage-independent growth, supporting an argument for the safety of ASCs for clinical use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / cytology*
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cartilage / cytology*
  • Cartilage / injuries
  • Cartilage / metabolism*
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genomic Instability
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Regeneration / physiology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stromal Cells / cytology*
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • RNA, Messenger

Grants and funding

This work was supported by: ADIPOA EU FP7 project n. 241719; RFO Bologna University; MIUR-FIRB Project RBAP10KCNS, 5 per mille Funds, Italian Health Ministry. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.