Abstract
The use of FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum) is accompanied by a risk of disease transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate autologous serum (AS) as an alternative culture medium for tissue engineering. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, DNA production (cell proliferation), and production of mineralized bone matrix were assessed when porcine mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs) were cultured in autologous versus fetal bovine serum. Cells were cultured as follows: 1) DMEM (Dulbecco's modified high glucose eagle's medium), osteogenic supplements (OS: 100 nM dexamethasone, 50µg/ml ascorbic acid, and 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate), and 10% active autologous serum (AAS); 2) DMEM, OS, and 10% inactivated (heated) autologous serum (IAS); 3) DMEM, OS, and 10% FBS (control). At 3, 7, 14 and 21 days in culture, Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, DNA production (cell proliferation), and production of mineralized bone matrix were measured. ALP activity and DNA production were greater at all time points in the FBS (control) group versus the experimental (AAS and IAS) groups. However, ALP activity relative to DNA production in the AAS and IAS groups was equal to the FBS group.
