Massive Clonal Selection and Transiently Contributing Clones During Expansion of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Cultures Revealed by Lentiviral RGB-Barcode Technology

TY - JOUR

T1 - Massive Clonal Selection and Transiently Contributing Clones During Expansion of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Cultures Revealed by Lentiviral RGB-Barcode Technology

AU - Selich, Anton

AU - Daudert, Jannik

AU - Hass, Ralf

AU - Philipp, Friederike

AU - von Kaisenberg, Constantin

AU - Paul, Gabi

AU - Cornils, Kerstin

AU - Fehse, Boris

AU - Rittinghausen, Susanne

AU - Schambach, Axel

AU - Rothe, Michael

N1 - ©AlphaMed Press.

PY - 2016/5

Y1 - 2016/5

N2 - UNLABELLED: : Mesenchymal stem (or stromal) cells (MSCs) have been used in more than 400 clinical trials for the treatment of various diseases. The clinical benefit and reproducibility of results, however, remain extremely variable. During the in vitro expansion phase, which is necessary to achieve clinically relevant cell numbers, MSCs show signs of aging accompanied by different contributions of single clones to the mass culture. Here we used multicolor lentiviral barcode labeling to follow the clonal dynamics during in vitro MSC expansion from whole umbilical cord pieces (UCPs). The clonal composition was analyzed by a combination of flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, and deep sequencing. Starting with highly complex cell populations, we observed a massive reduction in diversity, transiently dominating populations, and a selection of single clones over time. Importantly, the first wave of clonal constriction already occurred in the early passages during MSC expansion. Consecutive MSC cultures from the same UCP implied the existence of more primitive, MSC culture-initiating cells. Our results show that microscopically homogenous MSC mass cultures consist of many subpopulations, which undergo clonal selection and have different capabilities. Among other factors, the clonal composition of the graft might have an impact on the functional properties of MSCs in experimental and clinical settings.SIGNIFICANCE: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can easily be obtained from various adult or embryonal tissues and are frequently used in clinical trials. For their clinical application, MSCs have to be expanded in vitro. This unavoidable step influences the features of MSCs, so that clinical benefit and experimental results are often highly variable. Despite a homogenous appearance under the microscope, MSC cultures undergo massive clonal selection over time. Multicolor fluorescence labeling and deep sequencing were used to demonstrate the dynamic clonal composition of MSC cultures, which might ultimately explain the variable clinical performance of the cells.

AB - UNLABELLED: : Mesenchymal stem (or stromal) cells (MSCs) have been used in more than 400 clinical trials for the treatment of various diseases. The clinical benefit and reproducibility of results, however, remain extremely variable. During the in vitro expansion phase, which is necessary to achieve clinically relevant cell numbers, MSCs show signs of aging accompanied by different contributions of single clones to the mass culture. Here we used multicolor lentiviral barcode labeling to follow the clonal dynamics during in vitro MSC expansion from whole umbilical cord pieces (UCPs). The clonal composition was analyzed by a combination of flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, and deep sequencing. Starting with highly complex cell populations, we observed a massive reduction in diversity, transiently dominating populations, and a selection of single clones over time. Importantly, the first wave of clonal constriction already occurred in the early passages during MSC expansion. Consecutive MSC cultures from the same UCP implied the existence of more primitive, MSC culture-initiating cells. Our results show that microscopically homogenous MSC mass cultures consist of many subpopulations, which undergo clonal selection and have different capabilities. Among other factors, the clonal composition of the graft might have an impact on the functional properties of MSCs in experimental and clinical settings.SIGNIFICANCE: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can easily be obtained from various adult or embryonal tissues and are frequently used in clinical trials. For their clinical application, MSCs have to be expanded in vitro. This unavoidable step influences the features of MSCs, so that clinical benefit and experimental results are often highly variable. Despite a homogenous appearance under the microscope, MSC cultures undergo massive clonal selection over time. Multicolor fluorescence labeling and deep sequencing were used to demonstrate the dynamic clonal composition of MSC cultures, which might ultimately explain the variable clinical performance of the cells.

U2 - 10.5966/sctm.2015-0176

DO - 10.5966/sctm.2015-0176

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 27034413

VL - 5

SP - 591

EP - 601

JO - STEM CELL TRANSL MED

JF - STEM CELL TRANSL MED

SN - 2157-6564

IS - 5

ER -