Scientists find that mesenchymal progenitors can be grown without use of animal derived compounds, making strides in creation of clinical grade bone, as published in Stem Cell Research and Therapy.

Scientists from the New York Stem Cell Foundation have identified 2 types of growth media that can support effective expansion of mesenchymal progenitor cells from stem cells in a clinically compatible, GMP setting for treatment of bone disease and/or injury. It is essential to produce high quality cells that meet safety requirements to bring effective cellular therapies to patients in need, says Susan L. Solomon, CEO of NYSCF.

MPs resemble MSCs which can go on to form a variety of cell types including bone cells, muscle cells, fat cells, and cartilage cells, as well as modulate behavior of other types of cells. MSCs are often scarce and don’t expand well enough to provide the amounts of cells need for an effective therapy; while MPs can be produced in large numbers for each patient when generated from iPSCs and show promise for the treatment of heart, blood, immune diseases, and repair of damaged bone and cartilage.

MPs have been derived from iPSCs in the past, but not in a growth medium without animal derived compounds, the team is happy to find MP cells grown in GMP compliant media showed the same biological and functional properties as those grown in research grade media with animal derived products, says Ralph Lauren, PhD.

MP cells grown in a medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum were compared with MP cells grown in two different xeno free medias without animal products: one supplemented with human platelet lysates and the other in a commercial high performance GMP medium. While MPs grown in xeno free and GMP media showed slightly different morphology, expansion potential, gene expression, and cytokine profile than those grown in the animal product containing medium the cells were found to be healthy and functional in the new conditions.

According to the scientists, collectively results show promise for eventual application of these MP cells into cellular therapies.