Background
Methods
Results
Species, freezing and thawing methods
Post-thaw assessment
Viability
Study | Species | Method of freezing | Concentration at freezing | Method of thawing | Passage number at freezing | Results post-thaw | Method of assessment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Human | |||||||
Bruder et al. [91] | Human | FBS with 10% DMSO in LN2 (24 h) | NA | NA | NA | Cell recovery after thawing was above 95% | Trypan blue exclusion |
Hirose et al. [41] | Human | Cell Banker storage medium, cells cryopreserved at − 150 °C (NA) | 5 * 105 cells/mL | Cells were thawed in MEM-α supplemented with 15% FBS | P1 | Immediately post-thaw viability was retained post-thaw at about 98% | Fluorescent microscopy: live/dead viability assay kit |
Kotobuki et al. [35] | Human | Cell Banker medium, cryopreserved at − 80 °C (NA) | 5 * 105 cells/mL | NA | P1 | Immediately post-thaw viability was retained post-thaw at above 90% | NucleoCounter (ChemoMetec) |
Kotobuki et al. [92] | Human | Cell Banker storage medium (ready-to-use storage medium), then cells stored sequentially: 10 min at 4 °C, 1 h at − 30 °C, 2–3 days at − 80 °C then long-term storage at − 152 °C (0.3–33.6 months) | 5 * 105 cells/mL | NA | P1 | Immediately post-thaw viability ranged from 71.9 to 100% with average viability about 90% | NucleoCounter (ChemoMetec) |
Xiang et al. [93] | Human | 30% serum-containing α-MEM with 10% DMSO, 4 °C for 10 min then cooled to − 80 °C at 1 °C/min in a controlled-rate freezer then LN2 (12 months) | 1 * 105 cells/mL | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath by shaking lightly for 1 or 2 min | P3 | Immediately post-thaw viability ranged from 84.6 to 100% | Flow cytometry—fluorescein diacetate, PI |
Zhao et al. [94] | Human (with chronic myeloid leukaemia) | IMDM with 40% FCS and 10% DMSO at 4 °C, beaker with methanol in − 70 °C freezer for 24 h then LN2 (3 or 6 months or 1 year) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | 37 °C water bath for 2–4 min | P2–3 | Immediately post-thaw viability was retained post-thaw at about 90% | Trypan blue exclusion |
Heng [30] | Human | Culture medium with 10% DMSO and 0, 10 or 100 microM of Rho-associate kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632, cooling to − 80 °C for 2 h, then vapour phase of LN2 (1 h) | 1.17 * 105 cells/mL | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath | P5 | Immediately post-thaw viability dropped to a range about 91.3% to 89.4%; No effect of Y-27632 immediately post-thaw but there was an increase in viability at 24 h post-thaw | Trypan blue exclusion |
Liu et al. [28] | Human | 13 different freezing media tested with various combinations of different concentrations of serum, DMSO, PEG, trehalose and 1.2-Propanediol, equilibration of cells with freezing media at 4 °C for 10 min, − 80 °C overnight then LN2 (min. 1 week) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath, shaking gently for 2 min | N/A | A freezing solution composed of 7.5% c(v/v) DMSO, 2.5% (w/v) PEG, 2% bovine serum albumin gave comparable viability (about 82.9%) to 10% DMSO (about 82.7%) | Flow cytometry–PI |
Doan et al. [95] | Human | DMEM/F12 with 10% DMSO, incubation, 4 °C for 10 min, − 20 °C for 1 h, − 80 °C for 1 day then LN2 (1 year) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | In a water bath at 37 °C | P3 | Immediately post-thaw viability was retained post-thaw at 72.95% | Cell Viability Analyzer (Beckman Counter, USA) |
François et al. [45] | Human | α-MEM with 30% FBS and 5% DMSO, − 80 °C for 24 h then LN2 (1 week) | NA | NA | Early passage | Immediately post-thaw viability dropped to ≤ 60% (Annexin V/PI) and > 80% (Trypan blue); At 4 h post-thaw viability was between 44 and 61%; viability increased after post-thaw culture | Trypan blue exclusion |
Ginis et al. [50] | Human | CryoStor-2, CryoStor-5, CryoStor-10 containing 2%, 5% and 10% DMSO respectively or conventional freezing medium (90% growth medium with 10% FCS, 30% bovine serum albumin and 10% DMSO), pre-cooling on ice for 10 min, slowly cooled to − 5 °C, blast of chilling to − 25 °C, quick return to − 5 °C, cooling to − 60 °C at a rate of 1 °C/min, cooling to − 196 °C at a rate of − 25 °C using programmable cell freezer then LN2 (about 1 month or 5 months) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | Thawed fast in a 37 °C water bath with gentle agitation | P2–4 | Immediately post-thaw viability after 1-month freezing was about 91.7% and 95.6% and 95.4% for CryoStor-2, CryoStor-5, CryoStor-10 respectively; Immediately post-thaw viability after 5-month freezing was about 72% and 80% for CryoStor-5 and CryoStor-10 respectively | Fluorescence uptake: calcein-AM, ethidium homo-dimer-1 |
Mamidi et al. [33] | Human | 90% FBS with 10% DMSO, programmable slow freezing unit then vapour phase of LN2 (long-term storage) | 3 * 106 cells/2 mL vial | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath, shaking gently for 1–2 min | P3 and then characterized at P4–6 (with another freezing at passage 4) | Viability was about 80% upon thawing then > 95% after subsequent plating (3 passages post-thaw) | Trypan blue exclusion; flow cytometry—7-AAD |
Matsumura et al. [26] | Human | COOH-PLLs 7.5% (w/w) at pH of 7.4 OR 10% DMSO in DMEM without FBS, − 80 °C freezer (1 week or 24 months) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath with gentle shaking | P3–5 | Cryopreservation for one week with PLL (0.5–0.8) did not affect the viability at 0 h and 6 h post-thaw; Cryopreservation for 24 months with PLL (0.65) provides protection comparable to 10% DMSO | Trypan blue exclusion |
Chinnadurai et al. [20] | Human | Freezing media, − 80 °C then LN2 (NA) | 5 * 106 cells/mL | Quickly thawed (1–2 min) | P3–5 | Immediately post-thaw viability dropped to about 87% (trypan blue) and 71.5% (flow cytometry) | Trypan blue exclusion; flow cytometry—Annexin V, PI |
Holubova et al. [69] | Human | 60% α-MEM medium with 30% pHPL and 10% DMSO, programmable controlled rate freezer at rate 1 °C/min to − 80 °C then LN2 (1,3,6,7 and 8 months) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | NA | P3 | Immediately post-thaw viability is 70–90% | Flow cytometry—7-AAD staining |
Moll et al. [38] | Human | 4 °C human blood type AB plasma containing 10% DMSO, frozen to − 80 °C using rate-controlled cell freezing device (NA) | 1–2 * 106 cells/mL | NA | P2–4 | Viability reduced twofold by cryopreservation when exposed to human serum (cell count and PI incorporation) | Cell counter and analyser system (CASY-TT); flow cytometry–Annexin V, PI |
Verdanova et al. [25] | Human | 15 different freezing solutions containing various concentrations of DMSO (0, 1, 5, 10 and 100%) in the presence or absence of sericin at 1 or 5%, cooling to − 80 °C at a rate 1 °C/min in a CoolCell container then LN2 (72 h) | 1.4 * 105 cells/mL | In a 37 °C water bath as quickly as possible | P1–3 | Highest viability (24 h post-thaw) was obtained using standard freezing medium (10% DMSO and 25% FBS in culture medium); Viability of cells (24 h post-thaw) frozen in culture medium containing 10% DMSO and 1% sericin was not significantly different from standard freezing medium | Fluorescent microscopy—DAPI |
Al-Saqi et al. [66] | Human | 10% DMSO in Mesencult-XF or STEM-CELLBANKER at 4 °C, cryovials on ice then moved to − 80 °C with a cooling rate − 1 °C/min for 24 h then then LN2 (NA) | 0.5–1 * 106 cells/mL | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath for 1 or 2 min | P3 | No difference in viability immediately post-thaw between two freezing media; CELLBANKER (85.6%) and 10% DMSO (86%); No significant difference in viability between non-cryopreserved and cryopreserved using both media | Fluorescence-based live/dead assay immediately post-thaw; flow cytometry—PI (two passages post-thaw) |
Luetzkendorf et al. [40] | Human | 5% human albumin and 10% DMSO, automatized process in a programmable freezer then LN2 (21–51 days) | 1.8 * 108 in cryopreservation bags | Thawed at | P3–4 | Immediately post-thaw viability was retained at > 90% viability using both methods for 4 donors out of 5 | Trypan blue exclusion; flow cytometry: 7-AAD |
Pollock et al. [67] | Human | 60% plasmalyte A, 20% of 25% HAS and 20% DMSO (final concentration of DMSO was 10% by volume), controlled rate freezer then LN2 (30–45 days) | 1–10 * 106 cells/mL | Thawed quickly in a 37 °C | P1–6 | Immediately post-thaw viability was retained at > 80% for almost all samples | Fluorescent microscopy—Acridine orange, PI |
Chinnadurai et al. [68] | Human | IFNɣ, caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK or 3-methyl adenine pre-licensing 48 h prior to cryopreservation, 5% human serum albumin, 5%, 20%, 40%, 90% hPL in aMEM with 10% DMSO OR CryoSOfree DMSO-free cryopreservation medium, cooling rate 1 °C/min then step-down freezing using a 7-step program in CryoMed controlled-rate freezer then LN2 (NA) | 5–10 * 106 cells/mL | In a 37 °C water bath for 1 min | P2–6 | The addition of various concentrations of human platelet lysate did not significantly enhance MSC recovery and viability; IFNɣ pre-licensing prior to cryopreservation enhances thawed MSC survival | Trypan blue exclusion; flow cytometry—7-AAD |
Gramlich et al. [18] | Human | CryoStor CS5 media, − 80 °C for 90 min then vapour phase of LN2 (7–30 days) | 1 * 106 cells per mL | In a 37 °C water bath | P3–5 | Immediately post-thaw viability was retained at > 95% (viability only marginally reduced after thawing) | TUNEL staining; Fluorescent microscopy—Hoechst, PI |
Lechanteur et al. [34] | Human | 40% PBS + 40% of HSA solution (20%) + 20% DMSO added under agitation at 4 °C, automated cryofreezer with a 9-step program to − 160 °C then vapour phase of LN2 (NA) | 2 * 106 cells/mL | Freezing bag is protected in sterile plastic bag and thawed in a 37 °C water bath for a few min | P3 | Immediately post-thaw viability ranged from about 50% to 90% with about 14% decrease in viability | Trypan blue exclusion |
Yuan et al. [52] | Human (BM-MSC engineered to express TRAIL) | 5% DMSO, 30% FBS in alpha-MEM OR human albumin with 0.5–20% DMSO, isopropanol freezing box overnight in, − 80 °C freezer then LN2 (1–3 weeks) | 1 * 106 cells/mL or 5 * 106 cells/mL or 10 * 106 cells/mL | In a water bath at 37 °C with gentle shake for 2 min | P5 | Significantly reduced immediately post-thaw viability with 0% DMSO (5.16%); Immediately post-thaw viability increased with increased DMSO% in the freezing; 15% and 20% DMSO gave reduced viability (about 70.6% and 64.1% respectively) immediately post-thaw solution up to 10%; at 5% DMSO same viability obtained for different cell concentrations | Flow cytometry—Annexin V, DAPI |
Other species | |||||||
Carvalho et al. [44] | Rat | DMEM with 10% FBS and 5% DMSO, cells incubate at room temperature for 15 min then vials cooled at 3 °C/min, 5 °C/min, 10 °C/min during 15, 45, 10 min respectively until − 80 °C using programmable freezing device then LN2 (1 month) | 1 * 107 cells/mL | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath with constant gentle shaking | Frozen down after 4 weeks in culture | Immediately post-thaw viability dropped to about 90.58% (trypan blue) and 66.25% (flow cytometry) | Trypan blue; flow cytometry—Annexin V, 7-AAD |
Liu et al. [29] | Rat, mouse and calf | 14 different freezing solutions tested with various combinations of different concentrations of serum, DMSO, PEG, trehalose and 1.2-Propanediol, equilibration for 15 min at 4 °C, − 80 °C overnight then LN2 (min. 1 week) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath with gentle shaking for 2 min | NA | There were variations between species with respect to cell viability—Mouse MSCs were more robust than rat and bovine MSCs; Reduced DMSO (5%) with 2% PEG, 3% trehalose and 2% albumin gave higher immediately post-thaw viability (91.5% [mouse]) to 10% DMSO (75.3% [mouse]) | Trypan blue exclusion |
Naaldijk et al. [27] | Rat | Cryoprotectant consisted of hydroxyethyl starches of different mean molecular weights [MW = 109, 209, 309, 409, 509, 609 kDa] and/or DMSO, then cells were frozen according to one of seven different freezing protocols (NA) | 1 * 105 cells/0.5 mL | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath | P1–3 | Immediately post-thaw viability was approximately 85%; viability after 3 days of thawing was lower | Trypan blue exclusion |
Davies et al. [42] | Rat | 10% DMSO in 90% FBS, then vials incubated for 1 h at 4 °C, 2 h at − 20 °C, overnight at − 80 °C then LN2 (NA) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | Thawing in a 37 °C RS Galaxy S + incubator for about 5 min | P1 | Immediately post-thaw viability was retained post-thaw at > 90%; But lower viability was obtained after in vitro expansion of cryopreserved cells | Trypan blue exclusion |
Renzi et al. [31] | Sheep, horse and rat | 13 different freezing media tested with various combinations of different concentrations of FBS, DMSO, Trehalose, hydroxyethyl starch, bovine serum albumin and Caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, 4 °C for 60 min, gradual reduction of temperature − 1 °C/min to − 40 °C, − 10 °C/min to − 70 °C in a controlled rate freezer then vapour phase of LN2 (5 days) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath | P4 | No DMSO or low DMSO gave very poor viability; The best viability was obtained when using FBS with 10% DMSO | Trypan blue exclusion (evaluated at 0, 24 and 48 h post-thaw) |
Li et al. [96] | Dog | DMEM with 10% FBS and 10% DMSO, 4 °C for 1 h, − 20 °C for 2 h, − 80 °C for 10.5 h then LN2 (1 month) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | Thawed at 37 °C | P4 | Immediately post-thaw viability was retained post-thaw at 90.1% | Trypan blue exclusion |
Zhu et al. [46] | Dog | DMEM containing 10% FBS and 10% DMSO, 4 °C for 1 h, − 20 °C for 2 h, − 80 °C for 10.5 h then LN2 (3 years) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | Thawed in at 37 °C | P4 | No significant difference in cell viability | Trypan blue exclusion |
Edamura et al. [36] | Dog | Cryoprotectant solution with or without 10% DMSO and 10% FBS, biofreezing vessel at − 80 °C in a freezer (7 days) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | Thawed in a 37 °C water bath for 1 min | P1 | DMSO and FBS-free freezing gave higher viability (about 99%); DMSO and FBS containing freezing media gave lower viability (about 89.7%) | Trypan blue exclusion |
Nitsch et al. [97] | Monkey | Freezing medium containing 0,1,5,10 or 15% DMSO (v/v), controlled rate freezer using an optimised freezing rate then − 150 °C freezer (1 week) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | In a 37 °C water bath | P9 | Immediately post-thaw viability was about 80% for the different DMSO concentrations; Highest viability 24 h post-thaw for cells frozen with 5 or 10% DMSO | Trypan blue exclusion |
Lauterboeck et al. [49] | Monkey | Three different freezing solutions tested (2 of them xeno-free) containing different concentrations of DMEM, DMSO and/or FBS, methylcellulose, poloxamer-188, α-tocopherol, cell suspension equilibrated for 10, 30 or 60 min then placed in controlled rate freezer using one-step freezing protocol or two-step freezing protocol then − 150 °C (at least 24 h) | 1 * 106 cells/mL | In a 37 °C water bath for 90 s | NA | Viability maintained after thawing | Automatic cell counter |
Ock and Rho [51] | Pig | ADMEM solution supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% penicillin–streptomycin with 40%, 20% or 10% DMSO, controlled rate programmable freezing device at − 1 °C/min from 25 °C to − 80 °C then then LN2 (< 1 month) | 2 * 106 cells/mL | In a 37 °C water bath for 1 min | P5 | There was a significant difference between fresh and cells cryopreserved with 10% (about 77.6%) or 20% DMSO (about 67%); No significant difference between fresh and cells cryopreserved with 5% DMSO (about 83.9%) | Trypan blue exclusion |
Romanek et al. [98] | Pig (BM-MSC treated with a high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) before freezing) | 10% DMSO, 2 h at − 20 °C then LN2 (up to 4 weeks) | NA | 37 °C water bath with gentle shaking | NA | Significant difference between cells treated with HHP and control immediately post-thaw (about 75.2%–81.7%); No difference in viability at 8 days post-thaw (about 81.6%–82.1%) | Trypan blue exclusion |
Mitchell et al. [32] | Horse | Six different freezing solutions tested (20% serum [autologous equine serum, commercial equine serum or FBS], 10% DMSO and 70% media OR 95% serum and 5% DMSO), − 80 °C freezer for 24 h then liquid phase of LN2 (2–5 days) | 10 * 106 cells/mL | In a 35 °C water bath with gentle agitation | P3–6 | Immediately post-thaw viability was retained at about 80–90% regardless of the cryopreservation formulation | Flow cytometry—Fluorescein diacetate, PI |
Morphology
Study | Species | Results post-thaw | Method of assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Human | |||
Kotobuki et al. [92] | Human | No effect on morphology | Microscopy (fluorescent/phase contrast) |
Haack-Sorensen et al. [19] | Human | No effect on morphology | NA |
Xiang et al. [93] | Human | No effect on morphology | Microscopy (light) at cell confluency post-thaw |
Zhao et al. [94] | BM-MSC (human with chronic myeloid leukemia) | No effect on morphology | NA |
Heng [30] | Human | The addition of Y-27632 altered the morphology of the cells (web-like appearance) | NA |
Liu et al. [28] | Human | No effect on morphology | Microscopy (fluorescent) |
Doan et al. [95] | Human | No effect on morphology | Microscopy (light) 7 days post |
Mamidi et al. [33] | Human | No effect on morphology | NA |
Moll et al. [38] | Human | Effect of cryopreservation seen on forward scatter but not side scatter when exposed to human serum | Microscopy; cell counter and analyser system (CASY-TT); Flow cytometry |
Al-Saqi et al. [66] | Human | No effect on morphology | Microscopy (light) two passages post |
Other species | |||
Liu et al. [29] | Rat, mouse and calf | No effect on morphology | Microscopy (light) |
Naaldijk et al. [27] | Rat | No effect on morphology | Microscopy (light) |
Davies et al. [42] | Rat | No effect on morphology | Microscopy (phase contrast) |
Zhu et al. [46] | Dog | Cells had several shapes such as long fusiform, polygon and astroid | Checked at days 2 and 5 after thawing NA |
Edamura et al. [36] | Dog | No effect on morphology | Microscopy (light) |
Mitchell et al. [32] | Horse | No effect on morphology | Microscopy (light) (24 and 72 h post) |
Immunophenotyping
Study | Species | Results post-thaw | Method of assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Human | |||
Kotobuki et al. [92] | Human | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Haack-Sorensen et al. [19] | Human | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Xiang et al. [93] | Human | No difference | Fluorescent sorting at passage 1, 5, 10 and 15 post-thaw |
Zhao et al. [94] | Human (with chronic myeloid leukaemia) | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Doan et al. [95] | Human | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Ginis et al. [50] | Human | No difference except lower expression of CD9 | Flow cytometry |
Mamidi et al. [33] | Human | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Matsumura et al. [26] | Human | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Holubova et al. [69] | Human | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Moll et al. [38] | Human | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Al-Saqi et al. [66] | Human | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Luetzkendorf et al. [40] | Human | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Yuan et al. [52] | Human (BM-MSC engineered to express TRAIL) | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Other species | |||
Naaldijk et al. [27] | Rat | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Davies et al. [42] | Rat | No change in the expression of CD29 and CD73; Increase in the expression of CD90, CD44 and CD105 | Flow cytometry for CD29 and CD90; RT-qPCR for CD44, CD105 and CD73 |
Ock and Rho [51] | Pig | No difference | Flow cytometry |
Differentiation potential
Study | Species | Results post-thaw | Method of assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Human | |||
Bruder et al. [91] | Human | No effect on osteogenic differentiation ability | Cell re-plated for one passage post-thaw then re-plated and incubated with osteogenic supplements; quantification of alkaline phosphatase activity |
Hirose et al. [41] | Human | No effect on osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation with osteogenic media for 25 days; quantitative fluorescence analysis of calcein uptake |
Kotobuki et al. [35] | Human | No effect on osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation with osteogenic medium for 2 weeks; calcium and alkaline phosphatase activity staining |
Kotobuki et al. [92] | Human | No effect on osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation in osteogenic media for 2 weeks; quantification of alkaline phosphatase activity and calcein uptake |
Xiang et al. [93] | Human | No effect on adipogenic or neuro genic differentiation ability | Cells at P15 post-thaw incubated in adipogenesis medium for 12 days; Oil Red O staining |
Cells at P15 post-thaw incubated in neurogenesis induction medium for 1 or 6 days; fluorescent staining and RT-qPCR | |||
Zhao et al. [94] | BM-MSC (human with chronic myeloid leukaemia) | No effect on differentiation ability | Incubation in osteogenic medium for 21 days; Von Kossa staining and RT-qPCR |
Incubation in adipogenic media for 14 days; Oil Red staining and RT-qPCR | |||
Incubation in neurogenic medium; Immunocytochemistry and western blotting for NF, GFAP and GalC | |||
Endothelial differentiation for 2 weeks; immunohistochemical and western blotting for CD31 and vWF | |||
Liu et al. [28] | Human | Serum-free reduced-DMSO freezing solution gives comparable differentiation to 10% DMSO | Incubation in osteogenic or adipogenic media for 2 weeks, and chondrogenic media for 3 weeks |
Doan et al. [95] | Human | No effect on adipogenic differentiation ability | Incubation in adipogenic medium for 2–3 weeks; Oil Red staining |
Ginis et al. [50] | Human | No effect on osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation with osteogenic media; quantification of alkaline phosphatase activity on days 7 and 14 after incubation as well as flow cytometry analysis at day 14 after incubation of alkaline phosphatase surface expression |
Quantification of calcium deposition at day 21 after incubation | |||
Mamidi et al. [33] | Human | No effect on tri-lineage differentiation ability | Incubation in osteogenic differentiation media for 3 weeks; Alizarin red staining |
Incubation in adipogenic differentiation media for 3 weeks; Oil Red O staining | |||
Incubation in chondrogenic differentiation media for 3 weeks; Alcian blue staining | |||
Matsumura et al. [26] | Human | No effect on tri-lineage differentiation ability | Incubation in osteogenic differentiation media for 14 days; Alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase activity |
Incubation in adipogenic differentiation media for 14 days; Oil Red O staining and GPDN activity | |||
Incubation in chondrogenic differentiation media for 14 days; Alcian blue staining | |||
Kumazawa et al. [37] | Human | No effect on adipogenic or osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation in osteogenic medium for 1, 2, and 3 weeks then alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium levels, alizarin red staining and RT-qPCR |
Incubation in adipogenic medium for 1, 2, and 3 weeks; Oil Red O staining | |||
Luetzkendorf et al. [40] | Human | No effect on adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation in diff media until morphological signs of differentiation were visible (10–15 days) |
Lechanteur et al. [34] | Human | No effect on differentiation ability | NA |
Yuan et al. [52] | Human (BM-MSC engineered to express TRAIL) | No effect on tri-lineage differentiation ability | Differentiation procedures performed using StemPro differentiation kits according to manufacturer’s instructions |
Other species | |||
Liu et al. [29] | Rat, mouse and calf | No effect on adipogenic or osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation with adipogenic media for 2 weeks; Oil Red O staining and alkaline phosphatase activity expression staining with BCIP/NBT |
Incubation with adipogenic or osteogenic media for 2 weeks then Oil Red O staining and alkaline phosphatase activity expression staining with BCIP/NBT | |||
Naaldijk et al. [27] | Rat | In general, no difference in differentiation was observed (qualitative observation); Quantification of ALP: ALP activity is lower at ‘high’ (> 5%) levels of DMSO compared to solutions with a higher HES 450 content | Incubation with osteogenesis, adipogenesis and chondrogenic media for 2 weeks |
Quantification using alkaline phosphatase assay | |||
Li et al. [96] | Dog | No effect on osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation in osteogenic media for 5, 10 and 15 days; alkaline phosphatase activity measurement |
Incubation in osteogenic media for 21 days; number of mineralized nodules determined | |||
Zhu et al. [46] | Dog | No effect on osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation with osteogenic media (21 days); measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity at 5, 10 and 15 days and Von Kossa staining and nodules counting at day 21 |
Edamura et al. [36] | Dog | No effect on neurogenic differentiation ability | Incubation with neurogenic media for 6 h then RT-qPCR |
Tokumoto et al. [48] | Monkey | Cryopreserved cells had a slightly higher ALP enzyme activity than non-cryopreserved cells | Incubation with osteogenic media for 4, 8 and 12 days; quantification of alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity |
Nitsch et al. [97] | Monkey | No effect on adipogenic or osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation with adipogenic media for 5 weeks; oil-red O staining |
Incubation with osteogenic medium for 21 days; Von Kossa staining | |||
Lauterboeck et al. [49] | Monkey | Significant decrease in oil droplet formation | Incubation with adipogenic medium for 20 days; Oil Red O staining |
No difference in osteogenic differentiation ability | Incubation with osteogenic induction medium for 3 weeks; Alizarin red staining | ||
Heino et al. [39] | Minipig | Cells lost their osteogenic differentiation potential | Cells incubated in osteogenic medium; stained for alkaline phosphatase activity (tested 9 days post-thaw) |
Proliferation potential
Study | Species | Results post-thaw | Method of assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Human | |||
Bruder et al. [91] | Human | No effect on proliferation | Cell re-plated for one passage post-thaw; crystal violet dye-binding method |
Haack-Sorensen et al. [19] | Human | No effect on proliferation | PKH26-GL cell linker kit |
Xiang et al. [93] | Human | No effect on proliferation | Growth curves |
Zhao et al. [94] | Human (with chronic myeloid leukaemia) | No effect on proliferation | Cell count and cell-doubling time |
Doan et al. [95] | Human | No effect on proliferation | NA |
Ginis et al. [50] | Human | Proliferation of cryopreserved cells after 1 or 5 months of storage was higher than non-cryopreserved cells | Calcein-AM staining (at day 1, 4, 7 and 14 after post-thaw plating) |
Mamidi et al. [33] | Human | No effect on proliferation | Population doublings, cumulative population doublings and population doubling time |
Matsumura et al. [26] | Human | No effect on proliferation | Cell count; population doubling time (24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h post-thaw) |
Holubova et al. [69] | Human | No effect on proliferation | Cell count |
Al-Saqi et al. [66] | Human | No significant difference in population doubling time but cells cryopreserved in DMSO had longer population doubling time compared to fresh | Population doubling (first and second passage post-thaw) |
Luetzkendorf et al. [40] | Human | No effect on proliferation | Population doublings; Population doubling time |
Pollock et al. [67] | Human | Population doublings decreased with increasing pre-freeze passage number | Population doublings |
Lechanteur et al. [34] | Human | Very low recovery until day 4 then a slight increase indicating re-proliferation | Cell count (0–5 days after thawing) |
Yuan et al. [52] | Human (BM-MSC engineered to express TRAIL) | No effect on proliferation | XTT assay |
Other species | |||
Edamura et al. [36] | Dog | DMSO and FBS-free freezing resulted in similar proliferative capacity as non-cryopreserved; DMSO and FBS containing freezing media gave lower proliferative capacity | Cell count (2, 4, 6,8, 10 and 12 days post-thaw) |
Tokumoto et al. [48] | Monkey | No effect on proliferation | DNA quantification at 4, 8 and 12 days |
Lauterboeck et al. [49] | Monkey | No effect on proliferation | Population doubling time |
Heino et al. [39] | Minipig | Two to sixfolds decrease in the proliferative capacity of cells | Population doublings |
Romanek et al. [98] | Pig (BM-MSC treated with a high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) before freezing) | Cells treated with HHP showed better proliferation rate | Cell count |
Mitchell et al. [32] | Horse | No effect on proliferation | Cell staining with CellTrace label |
Colony-forming unit ability | |||
Human | |||
Verdanova et al. [25] | Human | Best number of colonies obtained when cells were frozen with 5% DMSO with 5% sericin in culture medium | Cells seeded 60 cm Petri dishes for 2 weeks, Crystal Violet stained and colonies counted (light microscope) |
Other species | |||
Ock and Rho, [51] | Pig | All cryopreserved cells showed significantly lower numbers of colonies compared to fresh; Lower DMSO produced higher number of colonies | Cells seeded in 6-well plates for 2 weeks, 4% Giemsa stained and colonies counted (light microscope) |
Mitchell et al. [32] | Horse | No effect on colony-forming unit ability | Cells seeded in 10 cm plates for 1 week, Crystal Violet stained and colonies counted (light microscope) |
Metabolic activity
Study | Species | Results post-thaw | Method of assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Human | |||
Liu et al. [28] | Human | Reduced-DMSO freezing solution gives comparable metabolic activity to 10% DMSO | AlamarBlue assay |
Chinnadurai et al. [20] | Human | No reduction in metabolic fitness | Calcium uptake; PrestoBlue reduction |
Chinnadurai et al. [68] | Human | The addition of various concentrations of hPL (human platelet lysate) did not significantly enhance MSC metabolic activity | PrestoBlue reduction |
Other species | |||
Liu et al. [29] | Rat, mouse and calf | In general, non-cryopreserved cells showed higher overall metabolic activities than the cryopreserved; Reduced DMSO (5%) with 2% PEG, 3% trehalose and 2% albumin give superior results to 10% DMSO | AlamarBlue assay |
Nitsch et al. [97] | Monkey | Lower metabolic activity for cryopreserved cells compared with fresh; Enhnaced levels of metabolic activity obtained for 5% and 10% DSMO levels | MTT assay (24 h, 48, 72 and 96 h post-thaw) |
Lauterboeck et al. [49] | Monkey | Cells’ metabolic activity was impaired up until 48 h post-thaw; Partial recovery at 72 h and full recovery observed at 96 h | MTT assay (24 h, 48, 72 and 96 h post-thaw) |
Apoptosis and senescence levels
Study | Species | Results post-thaw | Method of assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Apoptosis | |||
Human | |||
Liu et al. [28] | Human | Serum-free reduced-DMSO freezing solution gives comparable apoptotic percentage to 10% DMSO | Flow cytometry |
Ginis et al. [50] | Human | Lower percentage of apoptotic cells obtained with Annexin V and Hoechst staining compared to caspase 3 assay: using caspase 3, the percentage of apoptotic cells was between 13 and 17% for CryStor media compared to 3% for conventional freezing media | Flow cytometry—Annexin V, Hoechst, Caspase 3 activity |
Chinnadurai et al. [20] | Human | Higher percentage of apoptotic cells in cryopreserved MSC than live MSC | Flow cytometry |
Moll et al. [38] | Human | Apoptosis increased by cryopreservation when exposed to human serum | Flow cytometry—Annexin V, PI staining |
Other species | |||
Ock and Rho [51] | Pig | Bak and Bcl2 gene expression in cryopreserved cells was higher than fresh at 3 h post-thaw: Bak and Bcl2 gene expression in cryopreserved cells was comparable to fresh after culturing thawed cells up to 90% confluence: Bcl2 antigen expression level was comparable to fresh after culturing thawed cells up to 90% confluence | RT-qPCR for Bak and Bcl2: Flow cytometry; Bcl2 antigen |
Romanek et al. [98] | Pig (BM-MSC treated with HHP before freezing) | No significant difference between control (without HHP) and cells subjected to HHP pre-freeze | Flow cytometry—Annexin V: Fluorescence microscopy |
Senescence | |||
Human | |||
Mamidi et al. [33] | Human | No difference in the level of senescent cells | Β-galactosidase assay |
Al-Saqi et al. [66] | Human | There were signs of senescence (but could be due to culture medium rather than cryopreservation medium) | Β-galactosidase assay (analysed 2 passages after cryopreservation) |
Pollock et al. [67] | Human | Immediate pre-freeze senescence levels show similar trends but higher levels compared to pre-freeze At 48 h post-thaw, level of senescent cells dropped significantly comparing to immediately post-thaw | Beta-glo assay |
Attachment and migration
Study | Species | Results post-thaw | Method of assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Attachment | |||
Human | |||
Heng [30] | Human | Level of adherent cells was 39.8 ± 0.9%; increased by approx. 10% with Y-27632 | MTT assay performed 24 h post-thawing |
Chinnadurai et al. [20] | Human | 40% reduction in adhesion to fibronectin; 80% reduction in adhesion to endothelial cells; No reduction in the surface expression of adhesion molecules | After 2 h in static and 1 h in vascular flow conditions using microscopy (light); Flow cytometry for adhesion molecules |
Other species | |||
Li et al. [96] | Dog | Decreased adhesion capacity post-thaw; recovery of adhesion capacity after culturing for several passages | Adherent cell count (hemo-cytometer) at 4, 8, 12 and 24 h post-thaw |
Tokumoto et al. [48] | Monkey | Limited influence of cryopreservation on cell adhesion capabilities | Adherent cell count (hemo-cytometer) |
Migration | |||
Human | |||
Yuan et al. [52] | Human (BM-MSC engineered to express TRAIL) | No effect on migration potential | Trans-well plates |
Paracrine function
Study | Species | Results post-thaw | Method of assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Immunomodulatory potential | |||
Human | |||
Zhao et al. [94] | Human (with chronic myeloid leukaemia) | No effect on immunomodulatory potential | Mixed leukocyte reaction inc. T-cell proliferation |
François et al. [45] | Human | Impaired inhibition of proliferation of activated T cells; low IDO protein expression in response to INF-γ stimulation; up-regulation of heat shock proteins | T-cell proliferation assay (CD3/CD28); Western blot IDO; RT-qPCR IDO, CCL2, IL-6 |
Holubova et al. [69] | Human | No effect on immunomodulatory potential | T-cell proliferation (PHA) |
Moll et al. [38] | Human | Impaired immunomodulatory properties | RT-qPCR IDO, IL-6; Western blot IDO; Instant blood mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) |
Luetzkendorf et al. [40] | Human | No effect on immunomodulatory potential | Co-culture with PBMC; T-cell proliferation (PHA) |
Chinnadurai et al. [68] | Human | Freeze-thawing attenuates immunosuppressive properties of human MSC independent of freezing methods or freezing media; Thawed MSC can suppress T-cell proliferation in the absence of cell contact; IFNɣ pre-licensing prior to cryopreservation enhances thawed MSC’s immunosuppressive properties | Co-culture with PBMC; T-cell proliferation (CD3/CD28 & SEB); RT-qPCR IDO, Hsp |
Gramlich et al. [18] | Human | No effect on immunomodulatory potential | Co-culture with PBMC; T-cell proliferation (CD3/CD28); IDO activity assay (kynurenine) |
Lechanteur et al. [34] | Human | Impaired immunomodulatory properties | Co-culture with PBMC; T-cell proliferation (CD3/CD28); IDO activity assay (kynurenine) |
Angiogenesis potential | |||
Human | |||
Haack-Sorensen et al. [19] | Human | No effect on the capacity of MSC to differentiate into endothelial cells; Retained VEGF responsiveness | In vitro angiogenesis; RT-qPCR, KDR, vWF, INSIG |
Growth factor secretion | |||
Human | |||
Gramlich et al. [18] | Human | Small changes in growth factor secretion between fresh and cryopreserved cells | Human antibody-mediated growth factor array |