Novel cryopreservation method for dissociated human embryonic stem cells in the presence of a ROCK inhibitor.
BACKGROUND
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have potential use in clinical therapy and regenerative medicine. One of the major challenges regarding the application of these cells is the development of an efficient cryopreservation protocol, since current methods, which include slow-freezing-rapid thawing and vitrification of colonies in suspension, present poor viability and high differentiation rates. Dissociated hESC suspensions do not survive cryopreservation because they are susceptible to apoptosis upon cell detachment and dissociation. A selective Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor has been reported to increase the survival of dissociated hESCs and their cloning efficiency.


RESULTS
Here, we describe a novel method for dissociated hESCs cryopreservation in the presence of the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632. The addition of this inhibitor to the freezing and post-thawing medium significantly increased the survival rate and efficiency of colony formation. Moreover, the hESC colonies obtained after the cryopreservation in the presence of the ROCK inhibitor showed a very low rate of differentiation and a reduced time of recovery. After prolonged culture of frozen-thawed dissociated hESCs, the characteristic properties of pluripotent cells were observed, including normal karyotype, morphological features, marker expression (SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81 and Oct-4) and the potential to differentiate into derivatives of all three germ layers after embryoid bodies formation.


CONCLUSIONS
This novel method for the cryopreservation of dissociated hESCs may reduce the time required to amplify frozen stocks, and facilitate not only the storage of large numbers of hESCs but also the widespread use of these cells in regenerative medicine.
Martin-Ibañez
R
R
Departament de Biologia Cellular, Facultat de Medicina, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Barcelona, Spain.
Unger
C
C
Strömberg
A
A
Baker
D
D
Canals
J M
JM
Hovatta
O
O
D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000577:Amides; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D011725:Pyridines; C108830:Y 27632; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases