title: The effects of hypoxia and serum-free conditions on the stemness properties of human adipose-derived stem cells.
abstract: The need to have a better and safer culture condition for expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is crucial particularly to prevent infection and immune rejection. This is normally associated with the use of animal-based serum in the culture media for cell expansion. The aim of this study is to investigate alternative culture conditions which may provide better and safer environment for cell growth. In the present study, human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) at passage 3 were subjected to treatment in 4 conditions: (1) 21 % O2 with fetal bovine serum (FBS), (2) 21 % O2 without FBS, (3) 2 % O2 with FBS and (4) 2 % O2 without FBS followed by subsequent analysis of their phenotype, viability and functionality. We observed that ASCs cultured in all conditions present no significant phenotypic changes. It was found that ASCs cultured in 2 % O2 without serum showed an increase in viability and growth to a certain extent when compared to those cultured in 21 % O2 without serum. However, ASCs cultured in 2 % O2 without serum displayed a relatively low adipogenic and osteogenic potential. On the other hand, interestingly, there was a positive enhancement in chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs cultured in 21 % O2 without serum. Our findings suggest that different culture conditions may be suitable for different indications. In summary, ASCs cultured in serum-free condition can still survive, proliferate and undergo subsequent adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. Therefore, FBS is feasible to be excluded for culture of ASCs, which avoids clinical complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. wansafwani@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Wan Kamarul Zaman
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Wan Safwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chin Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kar Wey
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jane Ru
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Noor Azmi
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Mat Adenan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Siti Zawiah
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan Abu Bakar
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wan Abas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pingguan-Murphy
keywords: 21 % O2; 2 % O2; Fetal bovine serum; Human adipose-derived stem cells; Serum-free condition