Development of an ex vivo xenogeneic bone environment producing human platelet-like cells

PLoS One. 2020 Apr 7;15(4):e0230507. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230507. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The efficiency of in vitro platelet production is considerably low compared with physiological activity due to the lack of pivotal factors that are essential in vivo. We developed an ex vivo platelet production system, introducing human megakaryocytes into an isolated porcine thighbone and culturing in closed circuit. The efficiency of the ex vivo platelet production system was compared to those in vivo and in vitro. CD61+ platelet-like cells were counted by immunostaining and flow cytometry. Results showed that 4.41 ± 0.27 × 103 CD61+ platelet-like cells were produced by 1 × 103 megakaryocytes in the ex vivo system, while 3.80 ± 0.87 × 103 and 0.12 ± 0.02 × 103 were produced in the in vivo and in vitro systems, respectively. Notably, ex vivo and in vitro production systems generated cells that responded well to thrombin stimulation and expressed functional molecules, such as CD62P. Overall, our ex vivo production system was comparable to in vivo production system and produced platelet-like cells that were functionally superior to those produced in vitro. In future, the present ex vivo production system implementing xenogeneic bone marrow would offer a promising alternative for industrial-scale production of platelet-like cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD34 / metabolism
  • Blood Platelets / cytology
  • Blood Platelets / metabolism*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Integrin beta3 / metabolism
  • Megakaryocytes / cytology
  • Megakaryocytes / metabolism
  • Swine
  • Thrombin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Integrin beta3
  • Thrombin

Grants and funding

E.K. is a medical advisor of Sysmex Corporation. Shingo Fujiyama, Nobuyasu Hori and Toshiyuki Sato are the employees of Sysmex Corporation. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. This study was conducted as part of a research collaboration between Keio University School of Medicine and Sysmex Corporation: "Development of human stem cell production system using heterologous organ perfusion culture system", which was supported by the grant from Sysmex Corporation (https://www.sysmex.co.jp/en/index.html). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.