title: Variable resistance to freezing and thawing of CD34-positive stem cells and lymphocyte subpopulations in leukapheresis products.
abstract: Leukapheresis products for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can be cryopreserved for various indications. Although it is known that CD34(+) cells tolerate cryopreservation well, a significant loss of CD3(+) cells has been observed, which has been ascribed to several factors, including transport, storage conditions and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration.
  
  
  
  To assess the tolerance of CD34(+) cells and lymphocyte subpopulations for cryopreservation and thawing, the post-thaw recoveries of CD34(+) cells, CD3(+)CD4(+) cells, CD3(+)CD8(+) cells, CD19(+) cells and CD16(+)CD56(+) cells were determined in 90 cryopreserved apheresis products, among which 65 were from G-CSF-mobilized donors, and 34 from unrelated donors that underwent transport before cryopreservation at our center. A controlled rate freezer and 5% dimethyl sulfoxide were used for cryopreservation.
  
  
  
  We could detect statistically significant differences for CD34(+) cell recovery (93.0 ± 20.7%) when compared to CD3(+)CD4(+) cell (83.1 ± 15.4%, P = 0.014), and CD3(+)CD8(+) cell recovery (83.3 ± 13.9%, P = 0.001). Similarly, CD19(+) cell recovery (98.6 ± 15.1%) was higher than CD3(+)CD4(+) cell (P = 2.5 × 10(-7)) and CD3(+)CD8(+) cell recovery (P = 1.2 × 10(-8)). Post-thaw recovery rates of all cell populations were not impaired in G-CSF-mobilized products compared with non-mobilized products nor in unrelated compared with related donor products.
  
  
  
  Our data suggest a lower tolerance of CD3(+) cells for cryopreservation and demonstrate that freezing-thawing resistance thawing is cell-specific and independent from other factors that affect post-thaw recovery of cryopreserved cells. Thus, a clinical consequence may be the monitoring of post-thaw CD3(+) cell doses of cryopreserved products, such as donor lymphocyte infusions.
authors: Institute of Experimental Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Berens
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Oncology, Hematology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.
authors: Annkristin
authors: A
authors: Heine
authors: Institute of Experimental Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Müller
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Oncology, Hematology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.
authors: Stefanie Andrea Erika
authors: SA
authors: Held
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Oncology, Hematology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Mayer
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Oncology, Hematology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Brossart
authors: Institute of Experimental Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Oldenburg
authors: Institute of Experimental Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.
authors: Bernd
authors: B
authors: Pötzsch
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Oncology, Hematology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.
authors: Dominik
authors: D
authors: Wolf
authors: Institute of Experimental Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: heiko.ruehl@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
authors: Heiko
authors: H
authors: Rühl
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D005615:Freezing / Q000009:adverse effects; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D007937:Leukapheresis / Q000379:methods; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
keywords: B cells; NK cells; T cells; cryopreservation; donor lymphocyte infusion; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation