Liquid storage of marrow stromal cells.
BACKGROUND
Marrow stromal cells (MSCs) for clinical trials are inevitably stored before administration, but little is known about the effects of storage on MSCs. The effects of short-term liquid storage on the in vitro function of MSCs intended for a clinical trial were studied.


METHODS
Early-passage human MSCs were suspended in 0.9% saline or culture medium and stored at 4 degrees C or room temperature for up to 72 hours followed by assessment of cell loss, viability, and growth in culture.


RESULTS
When stored in saline at 4 degrees C, MSC counts decreased by 5% to 20%, MSC viability decreased 17% to 37%, and MSC growth decreased 65% to 100% after 24-hour storage. Similar results were obtained by MSC storage at room temperature or in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium or by addition of 1% human serum albumin (HSA) from two manufacturers. Storage of MSCs in saline with HSA from a third manufacturer maintained MSC viability at prestorage levels and improved poststorage MSC growth versus saline (32 +/- 9% vs. 9 +/- 9%; p < 0.05) or saline with two other HSA preparations (4 +/- 4 and 8 +/- 11%; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
MSCs stored at 4 degrees C or room temperature, in saline or culture medium, rapidly become nonviable. HSA preparations vary significantly in their ability to maintain poststorage MSC viability and growth. These results provide insight regarding the effects of storage on MSCs and indicate the need to screen HSA preparations before their use as additives to preserve MSCs during short-term liquid storage.
Lane
Thomas A
TA
Blood and Marrow Transplant Division, and Department of Pathology, Moores UCSD Cancer Center, University of California-San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0960, USA. tlane@ucsd.edu
Garls
Davina
D
Mackintosh
Ellen
E
Kohli
Sanjivan
S
Cramer
Steven C
SC
D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013696:Temperature