Characterization of bovine mesenchymal stromal cells from visceral adipose tissue collected post-mortem

ABSTRACT: Adipose tissue can be a source of bovine mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs). However, most studies do not incorporate post-mortem collection or in vitro differentiation of these cells from bovine fat and other sources into three mesodermal lineages. This study characterized and cryopreserved bovine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) collected post-mortem. Cells were isolated from cattle (Bos taurus) and cultured under standard conditions for ex vivo expansion and cryopreservation. Cell growth kinetics was determined by cell doubling time after consecutive cellular passages. Clonogenic capacity was determined using the colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) assay. The trilineage differentiation assay was performed to determine its in vitro multipotency. The in vitro proliferation and clonogenic capacity of bovine AD-MSCs was maintained across successive passages (P2-P6). Greater clonogenic capacity was found in fresh than post-cryopreservation cells. Cells showed multipotential capacity in adipose, cartilage and bone lineages. In conclusion, no changes were observed in the growth kinetics and colony-forming capacity of the successive passages evaluated. Clonogenic capacity was higher in fresh than post-cryopreserved cells.