Scripta Medica (Jan 2012)
Production of hematopoietic cells from umbilical cord blood stem cells for transfusion purposes: Focus on ex vivo generation of red blood cells
Abstract
Cord blood contains a heterogeneous population of stem cells and progenitors and, in addition to transplantation these cells could be used also for ex vivo production of mature cells, as red blood cells (RBC). The experimental ex vivo production of RBC, first demonstrated with cord blood CD34+ cells as a "raw material", is today a reality. The proof of principle for transfusion of ex-vivo-generated erythrocytes was provided recently. In this purpose, the CD34+ cells of other sources could be used: bone marrow, peripheral blood in steady state and after "mobilization" treatment, but also embryonic stem cells and adult Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - iPSC. It is imperious today to decide which cell population will be used to produce ex-vivo erythrocytes for clinical applications. In addition, the culture system should be optimized with respect to physical parameters (for example oxygenation), up-scaling to the clinical grade and transferred to industrial level.
