Evaluation of cellular and humoral immune responses to allogeneic adipose-derived stem/stromal cells

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem or stromal cells (ASCs) are poised for clinical use in an allogeneic setting. Although ASCs have been shown to be nonimmunogenic by several laboratories, it is advisable for the investigator to confirm this for ASCs used in their studies due to variations in ASC production and the animal models in which they are used. We describe here the use of the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assay to determine immunogenicity and suppression by ASCs in vitro as well as assessing T cell responses to allogeneic ASC transplantation in vivo. A flow cytometry assay to determine serum antibody titer to transplanted ASCs is also described.