Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (hPBMCs) are essential for designing cellular models to be used in cell therapy and drug discovery research programs [1-7, 12]. Being able to access reliable and ethical sources of well-characterized hPBMCs is now becoming fundamental for running physiologically relevant cell-based assays. A good opportunity to discuss the expanding applications for hPBMCs in drug development, that Patricia Bresnahan, PhD (Global Marketing Director at HemaCare Corporation) has observed over the last years.
Human Islets for Research – Which factors affect their quality?
The islets of Langerhans are the regions of the pancreas that contain its endocrine (i.e., hormone-producing) cells. Discovered in 1869 by German pathological anatomist Paul Langerhans, the islets of Langerhans constitute approximately 1% to 2% of the mass of the pancreas. There are about one million islets distributed throughout the pancreas of a healthy adult human. Each is separated from the surrounding pancreatic tissue by a thin fibrous connective tissue capsule. The islets of Langerhans contain beta cells, which secrete insulin, and play a significant role in diabetes.
Islets are widely used for transplantation to restore beta cell function from diabetes, offering an alternative to a complete pancreas transplantation or an artificial pancreas. Because the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans are selectively destroyed by an autoimmune process in type 1 diabetes, islet transplantation is a means of restoring physiological beta cell function in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Human Islets for Research (HIR)® are primary human islets processed from organ donor pancreases that have been approved for research but not for clinical transplantation of either the pancreas or the isolated islets. HIR® are obtained in a proprietary process of pancreas digestion and islet purification that results in uniformly high quality HIR® for delivery to diabetes investigators. Quality Control (QC) testing is routinely performed prior to release to assure uniform quality and function of these islets available for research. [Read more…]
New in vitro cellular model for human Lipodystrophy
Lipodystrophies are disorders characterized by complete or selective loss of adipose tissue from various regions of the body. They might lead to severe metabolic disorders. The development of reliable cellular experimental models mimicking such diseases in vitro is extremely challenging (1). One of the main hurdle in the design of such in vitro cellular models is the access to reliable sources of well-qualified primary cells and the identification of optimal cell culture conditions.
Enriched Tregs for a multitude of research applications
When it comes to the body’s natural defenses, is it possible to have “too much of a good thing”? Absolutely. To spare the host, the immune system needs to distinguish it from the real enemy –infectious agents. Autoimmune disorders occur when this recognition frays and the body’s own cells and tissues are damaged.
That’s where regulatory T cells, or Tregs, come in. [Read more…]
Cellular models to study the Cardiac System (part II)
In a previous post, I introduced several models to study the cardiac human system. This first post introduced human aortic, brachiocephalic, carotid artery and coronary artery cells isolated by Cell Applications Inc. Here is the second part of this inventory of cellular models to study the human cardiac system, where I’ll be highlighting human internal thoracic artery, pulmonary artery, subclavian artery cells, cardiac fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes.
Later on, I’ll conclude this series by part III, referring to animal cellular models for studying the cardiac system. But let’s now concentrate on today’s topic! [Read more…]
Cancer immunotherapy and PBMCs
Patients who receive cancer immunotherapy treatments in clinical trials must have their peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples collected at baseline and at later time points. Immune monitoring facilities provide laboratory testing of these PBMC samples in order to gauge the response of the patient’s immune system to the test treatment.
A primary focus of immune monitoring facilities is therefore to develop cutting-edge technologies whilst also standardizing and validating immune assays with rigorous quality-control standards to ensure data reliability. After all, the weight of clinical trial results depends on the accuracy, precision, and reliability of data generated from these PBMC samples.
The fragile nature of biological samples makes standardization of laboratory procedures an especially important focus. Parameters that can affect data include the anticoagulant used for preserving PBMC samples, the time frame between sampling and processing, storage/shipping temperature en route to the central processing lab, the cryopreservation and thawing process, as well as the cell culture media.[1]
5 most popular Cell Sourcing blog posts in 2014!
Today, I’d like to invite you to take a look at the 5 blogs that saw the most visits on our blog in 2014, in the field of Cell Sourcing & Cell Culture.
#1 – 6 good reasons (in short!) to use our blood derived cells!
At the end of 2014, we signed a distribution agreement with HemaCare, a world-leader of blood-derived cells. We took a look at just a few of the many benefits for European researchers.
#2 – How to get rid of fibroblastic and contaminating cells?
Very often primary cell cultures are jeopardized by the outgrowth of contaminating fibroblasts. The population of the target primary cells is directly affected, since fibroblasts usually grow at much faster rates than other cell types. So what are the solutions? Just read this blog!
#3 – Primary cell sourcing: Cryopreserved Human Adult Sebocytes
Sebocytes are emerging cellular models to study skin biology but also to design new compounds to regulate acne, seborrhoea and other sebaceous gland-related diseases. Easy access to cryopreserved and well-qualified sources of Human Adult Sebocytes will boost skin research and compound testing projects.
#4 – Tips for Optimizing Cell Culture Conditions with Hydrogels
In order to engineer a custom culture system with HyStem, simple pilot studies or optimization assays can be tested to determine the appropriate parameters for each experiment. Tips and guidelines for optimizing basic variables that can have a significant impact on the hydrogel properties and overall cell culture conditions are covered in this blog.
#5 – Struggling with tissue dissociation?
Successful culture of primary cells requires obtaining a maximum yield of functionally viable single cells from whole tissues… but this is easier to say than to achieve! Here are some solutions!
Stay tuned in 2015 for more topics, not only in the field of Cell Sourcing and Cell Culture, but many others!
miRNA mediates gene expression through HDL particles
A recent study published in Nature Communications is the first to report how a mature microRNA (miR-223) actively controls the gene expression of a cell in which it was not originally transcribed. High Density Lypoprotein (HDL), commonly known as “good cholesterol”, is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. HDL particles are complex structures composed of many components, including proteins, bioactive lipids and… microRNAs. One of the known benefits of HDL is its ability to reduce inflammation that might integrate miRNA-driven pathways.
Primary cell sourcing: Cryopreserved Human Adult Sebocytes
Sebocytes are emerging cellular models to study skin biology but also to design new compounds to regulate acne, seborrhoea and other sebaceous gland-related diseases. Easy access to cryopreserved and well-qualified sources of Human Adult Sebocytes will boost skin research and compound testing projects.