Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cells from Peripheral Blood

Adult HSCs can be collected by a process called leukapheresis.  In this setting, the patient is given a growth factor support agent such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which stimulate the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells into the blood.  After it has been determined that successful mobilization of the stem cells into the bloodstream has occurred, the HSCs are collected over a 3-4 hour period, processed, and frozen. 

While most HSC transplantation procedures currently use stem cells that express the CD34+ antigen, Biocytics™ is exploring the use of hematopoietic stem cells that express a marker known as CD133+.   The CD133 antigen is considered a new marker of early primitive hematopoietic stem cells and was originally found on cells derived from human fetal liver, bone marrow, and peripheral blood (Blood 1997 90 (12) p.5002-12).  CD133+ cells appear to be ancestral to CD34+ cells and CD133+ cells display a higher proliferative capacity (Stem Cells 2004 22 (5) p.704-15; J Hematother Stem Cell Res 2000 9 (6) p.827-40).  Progenitor and stem cells expressing CD133 can be found in numerous tissues and organs. Additionally, isolated CD133+ cells can also differentiate into other cell types beyond the hematopoietic system. Indeed, CD133+ expressing cells have been found in adult liver, kidney, muscle, prostate, and neural cells suggesting it is a pluripotent stem cell, which is a stem cell that can develop into any cell type found in the body, not just a blood cell (Blood 1998 91 (7) p. 2625-6; Nat Neurosci 2005 8 (6) p. 723-9; J Cell Sci 2004 117 (Pt 16) p. 3539-45; Am J Pathol 2005 166 (2):545-55).

Why bank adult HSCs?
1.  To provide a healthy source of stem cells for transplants.

2.  To provide a source of stem cells for study to improve disease treatment and care.