Our trainees review webinars in their given fields and share abstracts to help colleagues outside their discipline make an informed choice about watching them. As our program bridges diverse disciplines, these abstracts are beneficial for our own group in helping one another gain key knowledge in each other’s fields. We are happy to share these here for anyone else who may find them helpful.
Efficient Culturing of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Cell Therapy Research
Kanika Singh
October 20, 2022
Labroots
Summary and Analysis by William Baker:
In this webinar, speaker Kanika Singh examines strategies designed to efficiently grow and expand mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In particular, the author emphasizes techniques necessary to permit the interrogation of mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies for a multitude of diseases. This webinar is of interest in the the field of neurology, as MSCs have been implicated in tissue repair induced by neurodegenerative diseases.
The speaker begins by reviewing the “three pillars of therapeutics,” with an emphasis on cell therapy. Singh proceeds to introduce MSCs, delineating the defining features of these stem cells. She further describes the characteristics of MSCs that confer effectiveness in the context of regenerative medicine.
The focus of the webinar then shifts to the description of clinical trials that have delved into the effectiveness of MSCs in the treatment of various diseases. Following this, Singh discusses the usage of serum in the culturing of MSCs, as this represents an impediment to the clinical effectiveness of these cells. Cell delivery methods are then explained, along with concerns associated with MSC culture substrates.
At this point in the webinar, the speaker introduces a specialized cell culture substrate designed by Thermofisher for enhanced culture of MSCs. Experiments surrounding these surfaces are performed, with an emphasis on improvement in MSC expansion. Differentiation, secretion, and morphology are discussed. Finally, the author concludes by exploring the enzyme-free disassociation permitted by these culture substrates.