Bioengineered 3D-microfibrous-matrix modulates osteopontin release from
MSCs and facilitates the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells
Abstract
The osteopontin released from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) undergoing
lineage differentiation can negatively influence the expansion of
hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in co-culture systems developed for
expanding HSCs. Therefore, minimising the amount of osteopontin in the
co-culture system is important for the successful ex vivo expansion of
HSCs. Towards this goal, a bioengineered 3D-microfibrous matrix that can
maintain MSCs in less osteopontin releasing condition has been developed
and its influence on the expansion of HSCs has been studied. The newly
developed 3D-matrix significantly decreased the release of osteopontin,
depending on the MSC culture conditions used during the priming period
before HSC seeding. The culture system with the lowest amount of
osteopontin facilitated more than 40-fold increase in HSC number in 1
weeks’ time period. Interestingly, the viability of expanded cells and
the CD34+ pure population of HSCs found to be the highest in the low
osteopontin containing system. Therefore, bioengineered microfibrous
3D-matrices seeded with MSCs, primed under suitable culture conditions
can be an improved ex vivo expansion system for HSC culture.