Ex Vivo Expansion of Cord Blood-Derived Endothelial Cells Using a Novel Xeno-Free Culture Media

Aim: Endothelial cells (ECs), isolated from peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM) and cord blood (CB), are limited in numbers and expansion has had limited success. We used a novel serum-free medium (EndoGo) to evaluate effects on ex vivo expansion of CB-derived ECs. Materials & methods: Flow cytometry and matrigel were used to determine expansion of ECs and for determination of the EC progenitor cell. Results: EndoGo™-containing cultures demonstrated superior expansion and stimulated proliferation of two distinct subpopulations, CD34 + CD31 + and CD34 - CD31 + , which exhibited different morphology, phenotype and function. EndoGo also expanded the CB endothelial progenitor cells from freshly isolated CB. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the potential of EndoGo to expand CB ECs, which could generate increased numbers of ECs for therapeutic applications.