Clinical grade cultivation of human Schwann cell, by the using of human autologous serum instead of fetal bovine serum and without growth factors

Clinical grade cultivation of human schwann cell by the utilization of human autologous serum instead of fetal bovine serum, and also avoiding any growth factors, can increase safety level of this procedure in cases of clinical cell transplantation. The aim of this study was demonstration of the feasibility of clinical grade schwann cell cultivation. In this experimental study after obtaining consent from close relatives we harvested 10 sural nerves from brain death donors and then cultured in 10 seperated culture media plus autologous serum. We also prepared autologous serum from donor's whole blood. Then cultured cells were evaluated by S100 antibody staining for both morphology and purity. Cell purity range was from 97% to 99% (mean = 98.11 +/- 0.782%). Mean of the cell count was 14,055.56 +/- 2,480.479 per micro liter. There was not significant correlation between cell purity and either the culture period or the age of donors (P > 0.05). The spearman correlation coefficient for the cell purity with the period or the age of donors was 0.21 and 0.09, respectively. We demonstrated the feasibility of clinical grade schwann cell cultivation by the using of human autologous serum instead of fetal bovine serum and also without the using of growth factors. We also recommended all cell preparation facilities to adhere to the GMP and other similar quality disciplines especially in the preparation of clinically-used cell products.