Affinity Selection of FGF2-Binding Heparan Sulfates for Ex Vivo Expansion of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Sampath Jeewantha Wijesinghe, Ling Ling, Sadasivam Murali, Yeong Hui Qing, Simon F.R. Hinkley, Susan M. Carnachan, Tracey J. Bell, Kunchithapadam Swaminathan, James H. Hui, Andre J. van Wijnen, Victor Nurcombe, Simon M. Cool

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

The future of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) as a successful cell therapy relies on bioprocessing strategies to improve the scalability of these cells without compromising their therapeutic ability. The culture-expansion of hMSCs can be enhanced by supplementation with growth factors, particularly fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). The biological activity of FGF2 is controlled through interactions with heparan sulfate (HS) that facilitates ligand-receptor complex formation. We previously reported on an FGF2-interacting HS variant (termed HS2) isolated from embryonic tissue by anionic exchange chromatography that increased the proliferation and potency of hMSCs. Here, we detail the isolation of an FGF2 affinity-purified HS variant (HS8) using a scalable platform technology previously employed to generate HS variants with increased affinity for BMP-2 or VEGF165. This process used a peptide sequence derived from the heparin-binding domain of FGF2 as a substrate to affinity-isolate HS8 from a commercially available source of porcine mucosal HS. Our data show that HS8 binds to FGF2 with higher affinity than to FGF1, FGF7, BMP2, PDGF-BB, or VEGF165. Also, HS8 protects FGF2 from thermal destabilization and increases FGF signaling and hMSC proliferation through FGF receptor 1. Long-term supplementation of cultures with HS8 increased both hMSC numbers and their colony-forming efficiency without adversely affecting the expression of hMSC-related cell surface antigens. This strategy further exemplifies the utility of affinity-purifying HS variants against particular ligands important to the stem cell microenvironment and advocates for their addition as adjuvants for the culture-expansion of hMSCs destined for cellular therapy. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 566–575, 2017.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)566-575
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Cellular Physiology
Volume232
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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