INVESTIGATION OF SHORT-TERM STORAGE CONDITIONS FOR CULTURED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS FOR CLINICAL APPLICATION
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effects of temperature and DMSO-free storage media on viability and biological properties of cultured umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) during short-term preservation.
Materials and methods: Fourth-passage (P4) umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) were adjusted to a concentration of 8 × 106 cells/mL and stored in three preservation media: Ringer’s Lactate (RL), RL supplemented with 2.5% Human Serum Albumin (HSA), and NutriStor® Cold Storage Solution, at 2–8°C or 22–25°C for 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Cell quality was assessed based on cell viability, proliferative capacity, immunophenotype, and differentiation potential. All experiments were performed independently in triplicate (n = 3).
Results: Ringer’s Lactate solution supplemented with 2.5% HSA (Group D) effectively maintained the biological characteristics and high viability of MSCs within the first 72 hours, achieving an efficiency comparable to the commercial medium NutriStor® Cold Storage Solution (Sartorius, Israel) (Group E). At the 96-hour mark, Group D exhibited a significant decrease in cell viability; however, the phenotypic characteristics and trilineage differentiation potential were successfully preserved.
Conclusion: Ringer’s Lactate medium supplemented with 2.5% HSA at 4–8°C is the optimal short-term preservation condition for MSCs. Although the phenotype and differentiation potential are preserved up to 96 hours, cell viability begins to decline after 72 hours. Therefore, it is recommended to use the cells as soon as possible after harvest; if storage or transport is mandatory, the maximum preservation time should not exceed 72 hours under the aforementioned optimal conditions.
Keywords
Mesenchymal stem cells, short-term storage, Ringer’s Lactate, Human Serum Albumin
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References
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