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Review
. 2012 Feb 3;10(2):115-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2012.01.001.

The potential of stem cells as an in vitro source of red blood cells for transfusion

Anna Rita Migliaccio  1 , Carolyn Whitsett, Thalia Papayannopoulou, Michel Sadelain
Affiliations
Review

The potential of stem cells as an in vitro source of red blood cells for transfusion

Anna Rita Migliaccio et al. Cell Stem Cell. .

Abstract

Recent advances have increased excitement about the potential for therapeutic production of red blood cells (RBCs) in vitro. However, generation of RBCs in the large numbers required for transfusion remains a significant challenge. In this article, we summarize recent progress in producing RBCs from various cell sources, and discuss the hurdles that remain for translation into the clinical arena.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The Pathway to Therapeutic Production of Red Blood Cells from Stem Cells
Outline of the potential sources of stem cells for in vitro therapeutic products, including transfusion products (TPs) that are currently under investigation (top panel), the different phases of a production process (middle panel), and a list of possible intermediate and long-term clinical applications of in-vitro-generated erythroid cells (bottom panel). The diagram is color coded: intensity of red shades is inversely related to projected time for clinical application. Human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HPC), immortalized erythroid precursor cells (EPC), and erythroblasts at different stages of maturation up to the RBC stage in the expansion and maturation phase of the production process are represented. The culture protocols used to promote proliferation, maturation, and enucleation of erythroid cells vary significantly. Therefore, the generation of TPs in vitro will require establishing sequential GMP conditions, the most challenging of which may be represented by those that favor enucleation because of the need to replace the function exerted by stromal cells of murine origin with defined components.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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