Quantitative Assessment of Optimal Bone Marrow Site for the Isolation of Porcine Mesenchymal Stem Cells

J S McDaniel1, B Antebi1,2, M Pilia1

  • 1United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam, Houston, TX, USA.

Insights

The iliac crest provides the most mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from porcine bone marrow. A bedside stem cell concentrator device proved effective for concentrating these valuable stem cells.

Area of Science:

  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Comparative Anatomy

Background:

  • Bone marrow is a primary source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
  • Variability in MSC yield across different bone marrow anatomical sites remains uncharacterized.
  • Porcine models are utilized for preclinical research in stem cell therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify cellular yield and evaluate resident MSC populations from five distinct porcine bone marrow sites.
  • To assess the efficacy of a commercial bedside device for concentrating stem cells from bone marrow aspirates.

Main Methods:

  • Bone marrow aspirates (BMA) and concentrated BMAs (cBMA) were analyzed for volume, cell counts, and platelet concentration.
  • Colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) assays were performed to quantify stem cell progenitors.
  • Flow cytometry and in vitro differentiation assays (adipogenesis, osteogenesis) assessed MSC characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Nucleated cell and platelet concentrations significantly increased post-processing, with no significant inter-site differences.
  • The iliac crest yielded significantly more CFUs despite having a lower bone marrow volume compared to other sites.
  • Cultured cells from all sites exhibited characteristic MSC surface markers and differentiation potential.

Conclusions:

  • All evaluated anatomical bone marrow sites harbor MSCs.
  • The iliac crest represents the most abundant source of MSCs among the sites studied.
  • The Magellan device effectively concentrates stem cells at the bedside.

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