HUMAN ADIPOSE-DERIVED STROMAL/STEM CELLS: USE OF ANIMAL FREE PRODUCTS AND EXTENDED STORAGE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) have been explored in recent pre-clinical trials to treat diseases in a broad range of tissues. The ultimate goal is to translate these findings to clinical trials to test safety and efficacy in human subjects. This will require the development of animal-free products suitable for the passage of the cells. Current protocols employ trypsin derived from porcine tissue (stomach) for this purpose. Likewise, the length of time between adipose tissue harvest and processing will need to be systematically evaluated with respect to cell yield, viability, and function. The objective of this study was to explore alternative, non-animal sources of trypsin-like enzymes as alternatives to porcine trypsin for the passage of ASCs and to determine the effect of time delays on the yield and function of ASCs after collagenase digestion. These outcomes have practical implications with respect to the development of Standard Operating Procedures for cGMP manufacture of clinical grade human ASCs, which is essential for allowing their future use in the clinical practice .