Evaluation of storage conditions on equine adipose tissue-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells.
Authors: Mercati Francesca, Pascucci Luisa, Curina Giovanni, Scocco Paola, Tardella Federico Maria, Dall'aglio Cecilia, Marini Carla, Ceccarelli Piero
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) harvested from equine adipose tissue show considerable promise for treating tendon, ligament and joint pathology, but their clinical utility depends on maintaining cell viability during the interval between collection and therapeutic application. Mercati and colleagues systematically evaluated how storage temperature and duration affected key properties of equine adipose-derived MSCs (eAd-MSCs), examining viability, proliferation rates, surface antigen expression, differentiation capacity and chromosomal integrity following 24 and 48 hours' storage at either 4°C or room temperature. Refrigeration at 4°C significantly preserved cell viability and morphological integrity compared to room temperature storage, whilst cellular doubling time, CD44/CD90 antigen expression, clonogenic potential and karyotype remained essentially unaffected across conditions. For practitioners preparing autologous MSC therapies, these findings indicate that cold-chain storage is essential, and that cells should ideally be deployed within 24 hours of harvest to maximise the proportion of viable, therapeutically competent cells delivered to the injury site. This practical constraint has important implications for scheduling between adipose tissue collection, laboratory processing and clinical administration in equine regenerative medicine protocols.
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Practical Takeaways
- •If storing equine MSCs before therapeutic use, refrigerate at 4°C rather than keeping at room temperature to preserve cell quality and viability
- •Plan to use collected adipose tissue-derived MSCs within 24 hours; storage beyond this time compromises cell quality regardless of temperature
- •Proper storage protocols are critical for maintaining the therapeutic potential of MSCs intended for tendon, ligament, or joint treatments
Key Findings
- •Storage at 4°C resulted in significantly greater cell viability compared to room temperature storage
- •Cell viability was significantly affected by storage conditions while doubling time remained unaffected
- •Cells stored at 4°C maintained morphological normality better than those at room temperature
- •Equine adipose tissue-derived MSCs should be used within 24 hours of collection for optimal viability