Purification of CD34+ cells in myasthenia gravis patient’s peripheral blood stem cells using the CliniMACS cell separation system

Abstract

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation therapy has been widely used in recent decades for the treatment of hematological diseases, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. In autoimmune diseases, self-activated T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes secreting antibodies against host antigens are considered to be central in the pathogenesis of the disease. Autologous stem cell products that eliminates these pathological cells could be a lifesaver for patients with autoimmune diseases who are resistant to conventional therapy, in order to restore a healthy immune system, achieve long-term remission and limited recurrence. The aims of this study was to complete and evaluate the results of the CD34 positive stem cells purification procedure from a myasthenia gravis patient’s mobilized peripheral blood stem cells, for the purpose of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Myasthenia gravis as well as other autoimmune diseases in Vietnam. We have completed the purification procedure of CD34-positive stem cells from mobilized peripheral blood stem cells of patient with myasthenia gravis using CliniMACS system with results of removing 99.99% of T lymphocytes; 99.81% of B lymphocytes; 99.99% of NK cells, while CD34+ recovery performance was 64.05% with CD34+ cell survival rate of over 99%, no bacterial contamination, ensuring quality assurance of stem cell product for transplantation.