title: Effects of a defined xeno-free medium on the growth and neurotrophic and angiogenic properties of human adult stem cells.
abstract: The growth properties and neurotrophic and angiogenic effects of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) cultured in a defined xeno-free, serum-free medium (MesenCult-XF) were investigated.
  
  
  
  Human MSCs from adipose tissue (ASCs) and bone marrow (BMSCs) were cultured in Minimum Essential Medium-alpha (α-MEM) containing fetal calf serum or in MesenCult-XF. Proliferation was measured over 10 passages and the colony-forming unit (CFU) assay and expression of cluster of differentiation (CD) surface markers were determined. Neurite outgrowth and angiogenic activity of the MSCs were determined.
  
  
  
  At early passage, both ASCs and BMSCs showed better proliferation in MesenCult-XF compared with standard α-MEM-containing serum. However, CFUs were significantly lower in MesenCult-XF. ASCs cultured in MesenCult-XF continued to expand at faster rates than cells grown in serum. BMSCs showed morphological changes at late passage in MesenCult-XF and stained positive for senescence β-galactosidase activity. Expression levels of CD73 and CD90 were similar in both cell types under the various culture conditions but CD105 was significantly reduced at passage 10 in MesenCult-XF. In vitro stimulation of the cells enhanced the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and angiopoietin-1. Stimulated ASCs grown in MesenCult-XF evoked the longest neurite outgrowth in a neuron co-culture model. Stimulated BMSCs grown in MesenCult-XF produced the most extensive network of capillary-like tube structures in an in vitro angiogenesis assay.
  
  
  
  ASCs and BMSCs exhibit high levels of neurotrophic and angiogenic activity when grown in the defined serum-free medium indicating their suitability for treatment of various neurological conditions. However, long-term expansion in MesenCult-XF might be restricted to ASCs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Tissue Establishment, Cell Therapy Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.brohlin@vll.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brohlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Anatomy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kelk
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Anatomy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Hand and Plastic Surgery, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Anatomy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kingham
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D000328:Adult; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: adipose; bone marrow; clinical cell culture; mesenchymal stromal cells; neurotrophic factors