Summary:cells such as long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) may be required to overcome slow initial peripheral blood recovery in adult recipients. For these reasons we have Peripheral blood recovery after cord blood (CB) transplantation is delayed compared with marrow. Expaninvestigated in vitro expansion of CB cells. Experiments culturing unseparated CB or mononuclear sion of CB haemopoietic cells has been investigated with the aim of reducing cytopenia following transplantation.cells ( In this study we cultured enriched CB CD34 + cells for 14 days in the presence of IL-3, IL-6, G-CSF, GM-CSF to an untreated donation. Combined with in vivo posttransplant growth factor therapy this could prompt and SCF. Expansion of total cells, CFC and LTC-IC was calculated together with flow cytometric analysis to follow early peripheral blood recovery after CB transplantation, without significant loss of LTC-IC or donor the changes in CD38 and HLA-DR expression of the CD34 + cells during culture. lymphocytes. Keywords: cord blood; CD34 + ; colony-forming cells;Finally, from a practical point of view, clinical expansion of CB cells will require the manipulation and culture of CB LTC-IC; expansion following cryopreservation and it is essential that any cell losses are taken into account when the true benefit of expansion culture in clinical transplantation is being Cord blood (CB) transplants in children are characterized assessed. by slow recovery of neutrophils and to a greater extent platelets, 1 suggesting that progenitor cell numbers in the donation are limiting. Despite limited progenitor numbers sufficient marrow repopulating cells are present, as susMaterials and methods tained engraftment in children has been documented. 2 These data suggest in vitro expansion of relatively well differentiated progenitors will enhance peripheral blood recovCord blood collection ery following CB transplantation. We hypothesise that sufficient marrow repopulating cells are also available for Umbilical CB samples were collected by gravity into sterile reliable engraftment in adult recipients. However, expan-50 ml tubes containing 1000 IU heparin after the umbilical sion of post-progenitor cells, progenitor cells and primitive cord had been clamped and cut by the midwife. All samples were from normal full-term deliveries. Cord blood collection had local hospital ethics committee approval and time entirely at the discretion of the midwife.

Summary:The Bristol Cord Blood Bank was established as a pilot project within existing health services to establish costeffective recruitment, collection and processing suitable for use in the NHS should cord blood become a routine source of haemopoietic stem cells for transplantation in the UK. An important aim of the project was to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a midwifery-based collection network, thus utilising expertise already in place. Collection was performed on the delivery suite immediately after the placenta was delivered. The clinical experience of the midwife collector/counsellors allowed rapid pre-collection assessment of the condition of the cord and placenta. This prevented collection attempts from diseased or otherwise damaged placentas, leading to conservation of resources by preventing collection of most small volume donations. The bank was established within the National Blood Service, Bristol Centre to achieve Good Manufacturing Practice standards and ensure that processing was subject to the same strin- The Bristol Cord Blood Bank (BCBB) was developed as a pilot research project to optimise recruitment, collection and processing of cord blood donations, with future incorporation of cord blood banking into the NHS in mind. An important aim of the project was to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a midwifery-based collection network, thus utilising expertise already in place within the NHS.

Summary.In-vitro expansion of human cord blood (CB) cells could enhance peripheral blood recovery and ensure longterm engraftment of larger recipients in the clinical transplant setting. Enrichment of CD34 þ cells using the MiniMACS column has been evaluated for the preparation of CB CD34þ cells before and after expansion culture. Repurification of CD34þ cells after culture would assist accurate phenotypic and functional analysis. When fresh CB mononuclear cells (MNC) were separated, the MACS positive

No abstract