Inter-microcarrier transfer and phenotypic stability of stem cell-derived Schwann cells in stirred suspension bioreactor culture

ABSTRACT Emerging bioreactor technologies offer an effective way for scaled‐up production of large numbers of cells for cell therapy applications. One of the clinical paradigms where cell therapy can be an asset is restorative neurosciences. Nerve repair can benefit from the injections of stem cells and/or Schwann cells, acting as a source for axon myelination, myelin debris clearance, and trophic support. We have adapted microcarrier‐based suspension bioreactor culture for Schwann cells (SCs) differentiated from a new stem cell source – skin‐derived precursors (SKPs). SKP‐derived SCs attach and grow on different types of microcarriers in both static and stirred culture, with Cytodex 3 and CultiSpher‐S found most effective. Inter‐microcarrier migration of SKP‐SCs represents a key mechanism for rapid expansion and colonization in stirred suspension culture. We have shown that microcarrier‐expanded SKP‐SCs cells express Schwann cell markers p75‐NTR, GFAP and S100 and retain their key ability to myelinate axons both in vitro and in vivo. Scaled‐up microcarrier‐based production of SKP‐SCs in suspension bioreactors appears feasible for timely generation of sufficient cell numbers for nerve repair strategies. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 393–402. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The authors have adapted microcarrier‐based stirred suspension bioreactor culture for Schwann cells (SCs) differentiated from a skin stem cell source—skin‐derived precursors (SKPs). SKP‐derived SCs attach and grow on different types of microcarriers in both static and stirred culture, with Cytodex 3 and CultiSpher‐S carriers found most effective. Microcarrier‐expanded SKP‐SCs express Schwann cell markers p75‐NTR, GFAP and S100 and retain their ability to myelinate axons both in vitro and in vivo in the regenerating nerve.