stem cells | Acta Medica Marisiensis

Stem Cells Harvest from Volunteer Donors

Tănase Alina¹, Berteanu Cristina², Călugăroiu Carmen¹, Marculescu Alexandra¹, Copotoiu Sanda-Maria³, Brânzaniuc Klara³, Azamfirei L³, Cirstoiu C², Stoica Maria⁴, Cernea Daniela⁴, Stoica GA⁴, Rosin A⁵

1 Fundeni Bone Marrow Transplant Center Fundeni
2 Bucharest Emergency University Hospital
3 University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureș
4 Craiova Emergency University Hospital
5 Bucharest Institute of Haematology

Background: Over the last several decades allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has emerged as an important therapeutic option for a number of malignant and non-malignant conditions. The collection of hematopoietic stem cells mobilized from the bone marrow into the bloodstream of healthy donors has now become a routine procedure throughout the world.
Materials and methods: A number of 86 procedures of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) harvest and cryopreservation from 64 volunteer donors, 54 adults (28 women and 26 men) and 10 children (5 girls and 5 boys) with ages between 6–66 years (on ave-rage 30.5) were carried out in the Bone Marrow Transplant Center from Clinical Institute Fundeni, Bucharest.
Results and discussions: HSC mobilization was achieved for all the 64 volunteer donors by administration of Filgastrim, on an average 8.4 mcg/donor weight (limits: 5–16.64 mcg/donor weight), leukapheresis procedure being realized in day +5 of Filgastrim administration.
Conclusions: In conclusion, a healthy volunteer donor, will undergo in most cases 4 or 5 days of Filgastrim administration. The WBC and the number of CD34+ cells from the periphe-ral blood will be counted beginning with the 4th day. When the number of CD34+ cells from peripheral blood will reach a certain level (usually on the 4th or 5th day), the vo-lunteer donor will be sent to the apheresis unit for harvesting stem cells.

Allogenic Corneal Stem Cell Transplantation in Rabbits

Samoilă O¹, Șoritău Olga², Totu Lăcrămioara¹, Cristian Cristina³, Călugăru M¹

1 Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2 Oncology Institute, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3 University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Background: This is the first study regarding corneal stem cells cultivation in Romania. Our objective is to find a way to cultivate corneal stem cell into tissue that can be used to repair ocular surface.
Material and methods: We have conducted a study using an animal model (rabbit). Corneal fragments were cultivated on amniotic membrane substrate (intact or denuded).
Results: Cultures using denuded AM substrate showed high replication rates, especially after week 2, whereas cultures using intact AM showed little progression. After 1 month, 8 mm fragments trephined from cultivated tissues were used as allografts and transplanted on 8 rabbit eyes. All grafts integrated well, but with loss of transparency and corneal vascularization.
Conclusions: We have demonstrated the technique of cultivating limbal stem cells in vitro, on amniotic membrane substrate. We have also proved that surgical technique of transplantation is straightforward. Allograft use of cultivated stem cells was not efficient in this study.