Expansion of human hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation: trends and perspectives

Abstract

Umbilical cord blood transplantation is clinically limited by its low progenitor cell content. Ex vivo expansion has become an alternative to increase the cell dose available for transplants. Expansion has been evaluated in several ways such as static cultures combining growth factors or mimicking the natural microenvironment using co-culture systems. However, static cultures have a small volume capacity and therefore large-scale expansion has been addressed using bioreactors. These and other biotechnological approaches for the expansion of hematopoietic progenitors and their utility to study several aspects of hematopoietic stem cell biology are discussed here.

Fig. 1

Schematic representation of a rotating wall vessel bioreactor. Adapted from Liu et al. (2006)

Fig. 2

NASA-RWV bioreactors. (a) Slow turn lateral vessel. (b) High aspect ratio vessel, adapted from Gerecht-Nir et al. (2004)

Fig. 3

(a) Rotating bed perfusion system, Zellwerk GmbH-HiPer-Gruppe. (b) Disposable packed bed contractile bioreactor, Cesco Bioengineering Co., adapted from Kasper et al. (2007) and Ho et al. (2004)