Generation of organotypic multicellular spheres by magnetic levitation: Model for the study of human hematopoietic stem cells microenvironment

Claudia Camila Mejía-Cruz, Emilia Barreto-Durán, María Alejandra Pardo-Pérez, María Camila Jimenez, Julieth Rincón, Karen Vanegas, Jorge Luis Rodríguez, Luis Fernando Jaramillo-Garcia, Juan Carlos Ulloa, Rodolfo Martínez Díaz, Efrain Leal-García, Rafael Pérez-Núñez, Alfonso Barreto, Viviana M. Rodríguez-Pardo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Objective: The characteristics of human hematopoietic stem cells are conditioned by the microenvironment of the bone marrow, where they interact with other cell populations, such as mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells; however, the study of this microenvironment is complex. The objective of this work was to develop a 3D culture system by magnetic levitation that imitates the microenvironment of human HSC. Methods and Results: Human bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells, umbilical cord blood-hematopoietic stem cells and a non-tumoral endothelial cell line (CC2811, Lonza®) were used to develop organotypic multicellular spheres by the magnetic levitation method. We obtained viable structures with an average sphericity index greater than 0.6, an average volume of 0.5 mm3 and a percentage of aggregation greater than 70%. Histological studies of the organotypic multicellular spheres used hematoxylin and eosin stains, and an evaluation of vimentin expression by means of immunohistochemistry demonstrated an organized internal structure without picnotic cells and a high expression of vimentin. The functional capacity of human hematopoietic stem cells after organotypic multicellular spheres culture was evaluated by multipotency tests, and it was demonstrated that 3D structures without exogenous Flt3L are autonomous in the maintenance of multipotency of human hematopoietic stem cells. Conclusions: We developed organotypic multicellular spheres from normal human cells that mimic the microenvironment of the human hematopoietic stem cells. These structures are the prototype for the development of complex organoids that allow the further study of the biology of normal human stem cells and their potential in regenerative medicine.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)51-62
Number of pages12
JournalInternational Journal of Stem Cells
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Keywords

  • Hematopoietic stem cells
  • Mesenchymal stem cells
  • Microenvironment
  • Organoids
  • Organotypic multicellular spheres

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