Human platelet lysate is a feasible candidate to replace fetal calf serum as medium supplement for blood vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells.

Background Aims: As angiogenic and lymphangiogenic key players, endothelial cells (ECs) are promising candidates for vascular regenerative therapies. To culture ECs in vitro, fetal calf serum (FCS) is most often used. However, some critical aspects of FCS usage, such as possible internalization of xenogeneic proteins and prions, must be considered.

Human-derived alternatives to fetal bovine serum in cell culture.

Objective: The need for an alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) is known to scientists and users involved in cell therapy or advanced therapy medicinal products. Human serum (huS) and platelet lysate (hPL) can be used as alternatives resulting in similar or even superior results concerning cell expansion.

Methods: We developed protocols for the production of huS and two types of hPL and tested them in the expansion of human fibroblasts and adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC).

Proteomic analysis of human-derived cell culture supplements.

Objective: Development of cell therapy and advanced therapy medicinal products depends on in vitro expansion of human cells in fetal bovine serum (FBS) supplemented media. Human-derived supplements, such as human serum (huS) and human platelet lysate (hPL), represent suitable alternatives to FBS. Various studies demonstrated that the use of these human alternatives result in comparable or even improved proliferation and expansion ratios.