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Chemically defined cytokine-free expansion of human haematopoietic stem cells

Abstract:
Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are a rare cell type that reconstitute the entire blood and immune systems after transplantation and can be used as a curative cell therapy for a variety of haematological diseases1,2. However, the low number of HSCs in the body makes both biological analyses and clinical application difficult, and the limited extent to which human HSCs can be expanded ex vivo remains a substantial barrier to the wider and safer therapeutic use of HSC transplantation3. Although various reagents have been tested in attempts to stimulate the expansion of human HSCs, cytokines have long been thought to be essential for supporting HSCs ex vivo4. Here we report the establishment of a culture system that allows the long-term ex vivo expansion of human HSCs, achieved through the complete replacement of exogenous cytokines and albumin with chemical agonists and a caprolactam-based polymer. A phosphoinositide 3-kinase activator, in combination with a thrombopoietin-receptor agonist and the pyrimidoindole derivative UM171, were sufficient to stimulate the expansion of umbilical cord blood HSCs that are capable of serial engraftment in xenotransplantation assays. Ex vivo HSC expansion was further supported by split-clone transplantation assays and single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis. Our chemically defined expansion culture system will help to advance clinical HSC therapies.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41586-023-05739-9

Authors


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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-6687-4136
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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-2903-2332
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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
RDM
Sub department:
Weatherall Insti. of Molecular Medicine
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-7406-0151


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Nature More from this journal
Volume:
615
Issue:
7950
Pages:
127-133
Publication date:
2023-02-22
Acceptance date:
2023-01-18
DOI:
EISSN:
1476-4687
ISSN:
0028-0836
Pmid:
36813966


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1332491
Local pid:
pubs:1332491
Deposit date:
2023-04-25

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