Clinical Application of Manufacturing Platelets from Human Subcutaneous Adipose Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells

Abstract

Platelets have an essential role in hemostatic plug formation and wound healing. Platelet transfusions are widely indicated for patients with severe thrombocytopenia, and the clinical demand is rapidly increasing. Platelet concentrates used for platelet transfusions are currently supplied by volunteer donors. Due to their short shelf life (4 days in Japan and 5 days in the US), however, donor-dependent platelet concentrates are often insufficient in the supply. Recently, a line of evidence supports the clinical application of platelets to accelerate wound healing. However, it is difficult to use peripheral platelets for wide-range wound. Thus, new strategies for manufacturing MKs and subsequently platelets from a donor-independent source are urgently needed. We have established human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (ASC) as cell source to generate platelets for transfusion medicine and wound healing. The use of ASC has an advantage in manufacturing platelets, because (1) establishment of ASC and its differentiation into platelets do not require gene transfer, and (2) megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis are dependent on endogenous thrombopoietin.