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Isolation, Enumeration, and Expansion of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Culture

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Basic Cell Culture Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 946))

Abstract

Human bone marrow (BM) contains a population of non-hematopoietic stem cells also termed stromal cells, mesenchymal cells or multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). These cells have unique stem cell-like properties including their ability to self-renew, differentiate into multiple tissue types, and modulate immune cell responses through paracrine effects. These properties have positioned mesenchymal cells as biological agents in clinical trials for various diseases since the 1990s. Mesenchymal cells have been isolated from various tissues and cultured using various media and methods resulting in a lack of standardization in culture methods for these cells. Consequently, cells cultured in different laboratories exhibit different characteristics of MSC-like cells. This chapter outlines protocols for optimal isolation, enumeration, and expansion of human MSCs from BM in fetal bovine serum (FBS)-containing medium, as well as in xeno-free medium.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Betty Hoac and Jacky Yau for technical assistance, Bert Wognum and Emer Clarke for technical advice, Terry Thomas and Allen Eaves for continuous support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. STEMCELL Technologies, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Ravenska Wagey & Brenton Short

Authors
  1. Ravenska Wagey
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  2. Brenton Short
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ravenska Wagey .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Agency, West 10th Ave. 675, Vancouver, V5Z 1L3, British Columbia, Canada

    Cheryl D. Helgason

  2. STEMCELL Technologies, Inc., W. Seventh Avenue 570, Vancouver, V5Z 1B3, British Columbia, Canada

    Cindy L. Miller

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Wagey, R., Short, B. (2013). Isolation, Enumeration, and Expansion of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Culture. In: Helgason, C., Miller, C. (eds) Basic Cell Culture Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 946. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-128-8_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-128-8_20

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-127-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-128-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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