Search for Chemically Defined Culture Medium to Assist Initial Regeneration of Diseased Renal Parenchyma After Stem/Progenitor Cell Implantation

Key words

Kidney; Stem/Progenitor Cells; Artificial Interstitium; Perfusion Culture; Chemically Defined Culture Medium.

Introduction

Numerous papers published in the course of the last years demonstrate that a stem/progenitor cell-based therapy appears as an attractive option to cure acute and chronic renal failure in future [1,2]. However, critical reading of literature also elucidates that this innovative therapeutic approach is still in an early phase of research and clinical trials [3].

In consequence, until a reliable therapeutic application is available, a series of biomedical problems such as an effective implantation of stem/progenitor cells, compensation of harmful influences derived from interstitial fluid of diseased parenchyma and controlled repair of nephron-specific structures has to be elaborated [4].

Beside the infusion via the blood vessel system [5,6](Fig. 1a) or punctual implantation into the diseased parenchyma [7] (Fig. 1b) an alternative project is to implant stem/progenitor cells between the organ capsule and the outer parenchyma at the earlier site of nephron formation [8] (Fig. 1c). However, independent from the kind of surgical application a crucial problem is that up to harvest stem/progenitor cells are contained in the beneficial atmosphere of a culture medium, while after implantation exposure to the harmful environment of degenerating nephrons, altered extracellular matrix, unbalanced growth factors, interleukins and hormones takes place [9-11].

Moreover, the interstitial fluid within diseased parenchyma shows lack of oxygen due to damage of peritubular capillaries and contains a series of harmful metabolites causing inflammation and accelerating further the process of degeneration [12-15]. In such a harmful atmosphere stem/progenitor cells have to stand and must turn the situation into an environment supporting repair of parenchyma. In consequence, the strategy for implantation is to absorb harmful fluctuations of the interstitial fluid by co-implantation of a suitable buffering fluid [16,17].

A technical solution might be to mount in a first step stem/progenitor cells together with a potent buffering culture medium within an artificial polyester interstitium [18]. In a second step the construct can be implanted under the kidney capsule. In this scenario a mechanical protection of stem/progenitor cells will be maintained by the fleece fibers, while the space between the fibers acts as an extended reservoir of fluid so that at least for the initial period of repair contained stem/progenitor cells are protected from harmful interstitial fluid of diseased parenchyma.

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When implantation by the help of an artificial interstitium is considered, a pivotal role in the process of regeneration plays the co-implanted culture medium. It is contained in the space between the fleece fibers, compensates environment and provides stem/progenitor cells with nutrition and respiratory gas [19]. In this special case the volume of contained fluid must be big enough to support survival, multiplication, potency and development of stem/progenitor cells. Moreover, the available culture medium has to equilibrate the instability of pH and the influences of unbalanced metabolites of surrounding interstitial fluid in diseased parenchyma.

It is well known that commercially available culture media exhibit a wide range of electrolyte compositions and buffer systems. However, regarding implantation of stem/progenitor cells in combination with initial repair of parenchyma, it is not known which special sort of medium appears as the most suitable one [20-23]. Thus, for gathering more experiences regarding renal tubule regeneration and for finding appropriate candidates the present experiments were performed.

Materials and Methods

Isolation of renal stem/progenitor cells

From one-day old anesthesized and sacrificed New Zealand rabbits (Seidl, Oberndorf, Germany) both kidneys were removed under sterile conditions and cut into a ventral and dorsal half as earlier described [18,19]. By stripping off the capsula fibrosa with fine forceps, a thin layer of stem/progenitor cell niches is adherent to the explant. When this simple isolationmethod is performed, an embryonic tissue layer of upto 1 cm2 in square can be harvested.

Perfusion culture

Renal embryonic tissue containing numerous renal stem/progenitor niches was mounted within a polyester interstitium and cultured for 13 days in chemically defined culture media to evaluate their influence on tubule development. Briefly, the isolated tissue layer was placed between two punched out pieces of polyester fleece resulting in a sandwich set-up (I7, Walraf, Grevenbroich, Germany) [18]. For mounting a polyesterfleece measuring 13 mm in diameter was placed inside a Minusheet® tissue carrier (Minucells and Minutissue, Bad Abbach, Germany). Then the sandwich set-up containing renal stem/progenitor cells was inserted. Finally, another fleece was placed on top. Then the tissue carrier was transferred to a perfusion culture container with horizontal flow characteristics. For a period of 13 days always fresh medium was continuously transported at a rate of 1.25 ml/h with an IPC N8 peristaltic pump (Ismatec, Wertheim, Germany).

Applied culture media

To generate tubules chemically defined Williams’ E Medium (Nr. 32551-020), Basal Medium Eagle (BME, Nr. 41010-026), McCoy’s 5A Modified Medium (Nr. 22330-021), Iscove´s Modified Dulbecco´s Medium (IMDM, Nr. 21980-032), Medium 199 (Nr. 31153- 026), Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium (Nr. 31415-029) and CO2 Independent Medium (Nr. 18045-054) all including Phenol red were applied. All media were obtained from GIBCO/Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany. Infections were prevented by adding an antibiotic-antimycotic cocktail (1%, GIBCO/Invitrogen). Tubulogenic development was induced by application of aldosterone (1 x 10-7 M, Fluka, Taufkirchen, Germany) as earlier described [18,19]. To reach a constant pH of 7.4 under atmospheric air 4-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine- 1-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES; GIBCO/Invitrogen) was added during titration in necessary amounts.

Determination of electrolyte and glucose content was performed using a plasma calibrated Bloodgas Analyser ABL800 FLEX Series (Radiometer GmbH, Willich, Germany) according manufacturer’s instructions.

Histochemistry on cultures

After run of perfusion culture experiments the sandwich set-ups containing renal parenchyma within layers of polyester fleece (5 mm diameter) were embedded in 1% agarose (Serva, Heidelberg, Germany), then surrounded by TissueTek (O.C.T.TMCOMPOUND, Sakura Finetek, Zoeterwoude, Netherlands) and frozen at -80°C. To analyze cell biological features 20 μm thick cryosections were made and stained for control with Toluidine blue or labeled with fluorescent SoybeanAgglutinin (SBA, Vector, Burlingame, USA) as earlier described [19].

Transmission electron microscopy

To investigate semithin and ultrathin sections of generated tubules, specimens were transferred to immersion fixation in 5% glutaraldehyde (Serva) buffered with 0.15M sodium cacodylate, pH 7.4. Fixation was performed for 1 day at room temperature. After several washes with 0.15M sodium cacodylate the specimens were postfixed in the same buffer but containing additionally 1% osmium tetroxide (Science Services, München, Germany). Then the tissue was rinsed with sodium cacodylate buffer and dehydrated in graded series of ethanols. Finally specimens were embedded in Epon (Fluka) polymerizing at 60° C for 48 h.

Semithin and ultrathin sections were made with a diamond knife on an ultramicrotome Ultracut E (Reichert- Jung, Nußloch, Germany). Semithin sections were labeled with Richardson solution and then analyzed using an Axioskop 2 plus (Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). Images were taken with a digital camera at a 250 ms standard exposure time and thereafter processed with Corel DRAW Graphic Suite X5 (Corel Corporation, Otawa, Canada).

Ultrathin sections were collected onto slot grids (Plano, Wetzlar, Germany) coated with 1.5% pioloform (Plano) and contrasted using 2% uranyl acetate and lead citrate (Fluka) as earlier described [24].

Definition of cells within the renal stem/progenitor cell niche

For the presented experiments embryonic tissue derived from the outer cortex of neonatal rabbit kidney was analyzed containing renal stem/progenitor cell niches. To avoid confusion, the nomenclature of previously published papers was used [24,25].

Related ethical rules / Amount of analyzed specimens

Performed experiments are in accordance with the Animal Ethics Committee, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. For the present investigation a total of 50 generated specimens and in each series at least 3 individual samples were morphologically analyzed. In all micrographs the typical biological mean is represented.

Declaration

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Results

Basic composition of applied culture media

To simulate regeneration under advanced culture conditions,renal stem/progenitor cells were mounted for present experiments in an artificial polyester interstitium. For obtaining information about their sensitivity towards alterations in fluid composition a selection of media was offered during run of perfusion culture experiments. For example, as shown in Table 1 analysis of electrolytes demonstrates that the basic composition of applied culture media is very heterogenous.

According performed analysis CO2 Independent Medium illustrates the highest Na+ concentration (159.3 mmol/L), while Medium 199 exhibits with 145.0 mmol/L the lowest Na+ content. Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium presents with 148.4 mmol/L the highest Clcontent and Iscove’s Modified Dulbecco’s Medium (IMDM) shows with 65.6 mmol/L the lowest Cl- concentration.

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The highest K+ concentration with 5.9 mmol/L has Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium, while Iscove’s Modified Dulbecco’s Medium demonstrates with 3.4 mmol/L the lowest K+ load. The Ca++ concentration is high in Medium 199 (1.7 mmol/L), while rather low with 0.5 mmol/L in CO2 Independent Medium.

Glucose is present in various concentrations. The highest glucose content with 287.3 mg/dL was detected in Iscove’s Modified Dulbecco’s Medium IMDM. In contrast, while the lowest amount of glucose with 5.6 mg/ dL was in Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium.

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Influence of culture media on development

After 13 days of perfusion culture cryosections were made to analyze spatial growth of regenerated tubules. Label with Soybean Agglutinin (SBA) depicts that numerous tubules are developing between the polyester fibers of the artificial interstitium (Fig. 2a-g). Culture of specimens as well in Williams’ E Medium (Fig. 2a) as in Basal Medium Eagle (BME, Fig. 2b), McCoy’s 5A Modified Medium (Fig. 2c), Medium 199 (Fig. 2d), Iscove´s Modified Dulbecco´s Medium (Fig. 2e), Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium (Fig. 2f) or CO2 Independent Medium (Fig. 2g) demonstrates that tubules exhibit a lumen and that they are covered by a continuously developed basal lamina. In so far the specimens illustrate that tubules can principally regenerate in the presence of all applied culture media.

Light microscopical analysis

In the next set of experiments semithin sections were made to obtain more detailed information about morphological features of generated tubules (Fig. 2a’-g’). Also this series of experiments shows that all of the generated tubules exhibit a basal lamina and a lumen. However, comparison of analyzed tubules demonstrates that differences in morphological quality of tubule cells can be recognized. Application of Williams’ E Medium (Fig. 2a’), Basal Medium Eagle (Fig.2b’) and McCoy’s 5A Modified Medium (Fig. 2c’) illuminates that numerous vacuoles are detected in the cytoplasm of tubule cells. This result points out that probably toxic effects or non appropriate compounds within a culture medium interfere the developmental process of tubules during regeneration.

In experiments with Medium 199 (Fig. 2d’) and earlier approved Iscove´s Modified Dulbecco´s Medium (Fig. 2e’) some of the regenerated tubule cells show vacuoles within the cytoplasm, while in the majority of cases enlarged amount of vacuoles is missing [24]. In contrast, the use of Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium (Fig. 2f ’) or CO2 Independent Medium (Fig. 2g’) leads to tubules with fully intact morphology and an inconspicuously looking cytoplasm. Semithin sections of specimens further exhibit that application of all tested media results in tubules with an integrated polarized epithelium. In all of analyzed samples the luminal side faces a lumen, while the basal side rests on a continuously developed basal lamina consisting of a lamina rara, lamina densa and lamina fibroreticularis.

Independently if tubules exhibit numerous vacuoles (Fig. 2a’-c’) or an inconspicuously looking cytoplasm (Fig. 2d’-g’) an intact tight junctional complex was developed between the luminal and lateral cell sides. Most interestingly, in the case enlarged amount of vacuoles in the cytoplasm is present, the plasma membrane, nucleus and mitochondria appear to be intact. This is a sign that cells are still alive but are obviously kept under suboptimal culture medium conditions.

Electron microscopical view

TEM further depicts that promising results were obtained in experiments with Medium 199 (Fig. 3a) and Iscove’s Modified Dulbecco’s Medium (Fig. 3b). Although small, medium and big-sized vacuoles are contained in the cytoplasm, the cells are fully polarized and appear healthy. Astonishingly, most impressive results were seen in series with CO2 and NaH2CO3independent media.

Neither culture with Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium (Fig. 3c) nor CO2 Independent Medium (Fig. 3d) exhibited vacuoles in the cytoplasm of cells so that a perfect appearance of tubules is recognized. In all of the cases theluminal side is in contact with a lumen, while the basal side rests on a continuously developed basal lamina. Finally, between the luminal and lateral plasma membrane an intact tight junctional complex is developed speaking for a perfect physiological sealing between neighboring cells. All of these features speak in favor that tubules can optimally regenerate in Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium (Fig. 3c) and CO2 Independent Medium (Fig. 3d).

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Discussion

Protecting implanted cells by a biophysical fence

The environmental situation alters drastically when stem/progenitor cells are transferred during implantation from the in vitro environment to a diseased kidney [26,27]. In a culture dish stem/progenitor cells are still exposed to a medium stimulating survival, multiplication, potency and development due to contained electrolytes, hormones, buffering substances and nutritional compounds (Fig. 4).

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However, after an implantation the comfortable environment alters, since they meet harmful interstitial fluid derived from diseased parenchyma. In this critical situation speading stem/progenitor cells are further confronted with degrading nephron structures, destroyed peritubular capillaries, modified extracellular matrix (ECM) and toxic metabolites [28,29]. Exposed to a more or less chaotic surrounding stem/progenitor cells must start here to fulfill pleiotropic tasks of development so that they can survive and find the site of primary repair for turning degradation into a process of functional regeneration.

A technical solution might be to seed stem/progenitor cells within a fleece that is implanted under the organ capsule as it was proposed earlier (Fig. 5a) [18,19]. Such an artificial interstitium consisting of polyester fibers provides on the one hand mechanical stability during surgical handling. Further it exhibits positive interactions with stem/progenitor cells promoting survival and spatial regeneration of tubules. On the other hand the space between the fleece fibers contains a certain amount of liquid. In consequence, due to endogenous capillary forces within the fleece a reservoir for culture medium is present protecting stem/progenitor cells as a biophysical fence against immediate dilution with harmful interstitial fluid.

It is obvious that the contained volume of beneficial culture medium is small so that with ongoing time harmful interstitial fluid will replace it by diffusion (Fig. 5b). However, by altering the vastness of the space between the fleece fibers, their diameter or density the contained volume for culture medium can be varied so that the exchange of contained culture medium with harmful interstitial fluid can be more or less retarded.

Finally, during the initial period of parenchyma repair fresh culture medium can be transported over a tube to the implanted polyester reservoir, while by an efferent tube waste liquid is eliminated as it is performed in clinic routine by a miniaturized drainage (Fig. 5c) [30].

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Selecting an optimal fluid environment

Regarding destroyed structures in diseased renal parenchyma especially the instability of pH and variations in molecule composition of the interstitial fluid have a critical influence on restoration [29]. To obtain first information about the tolerance of stem/progenitor cells against alterations in interstitial fluid, in the present experiments the influence of various culture media such as Williams’ E Medium (Fig. 2a,a’), Basal Medium Eagle (Fig. 2b,b’), McCoy’s 5A Modified Medium (Fig. 2c,c’), Medium 199 (Fig. 2d,d’, 3a), Iscove´s Modified Dulbecco´s Medium (Fig. 2e,e’, 3b), Leibovitz’s L-15 (Fig. 2f,f ’, 3c) and CO2 Independent Medium (Fig. 2g,g’, 3d) on the spatial regeneration of renal tubules within a polyester interstitium was tested.

As illustrated by histochemical label a first interesting result was that application of all tested culture media is leading to development of tubules. Further fluorescence microscopy demonstrates that in each of the series generated tubules exhibit a basal lamina and a polarized epithelium (Fig. 2a-g). Also analysis of semithin sections demonstrates that it is principally possible to generate tubules by the administration of all tested media (Fig. 2a’-g’). However, these data also illustrate that the quality of generated tubules is different, when mentioned culture media are administered. Although frequently applied in other cell systems, the use of Williams’ E Medium (Fig. 2a’), Basal Medium Eagle (Fig. 2b’) and McCoy’s 5A Modified Medium (Fig. 2c’) illustrates that generated tubule cells contain within the cytoplasm numerous vacuoles obviously indicating a toxic influence, suboptimal nutrition or a non-appropriate electrolyte composition. Generation of tubules in Medium 199 (Fig. 2d’,3a) and Iscove´s Modified Dulbecco´s Medium (Fig. 2e’,3b) illustrates that on the one hand tubules exhibit a perfect cytoplasm, while on the other hand some tubules are found containing to a high degree vacuoles within the cytoplasm.

Up to date arise of illustrated vacuoles cannot be explained, since the contact to neighbor cells is closed by intact tight junctional complexes. Further a consistently developed basal lamina is registered. These arguments suggest that not a toxic effect but probably non-equilibrated osmolarity or suboptimal nutritional compounds are leading to arise of vacuoles.

Fully unexpectedly, best results were obtained by applicationof Leibovitz’s L-15 and CO2 Independent Medium. As seen in semithin sections (Fig. 2f ’,g’) and in electron microscopy (Fig. 3c,d), all of generated tubules exhibit perfect morphology and an extremely low degree of cytoplasmatic vacuoles. In so far the use of Leibovitz’s L-15 and CO2 Independent Medium results in an earlier not observed quality of regenerated tubules.

Promoting stem/progenitor cells with CO2 independent media

Although all chemically defined media allowed the development of renal tubules, differences in quality were observed. The presented experiments illustrate for the first time bad (Fig. 2a’,b’,c’), mediocre (Fig. 2d’,e’) and optimal (Fig. 2f ’,g’) influences of chemically defined culture media on the development of renal stem/progenitor cells. Surprisingly, the best results were obtained not by earlier used Iscove´s Modified Dulbecco´s Medium (Fig. 2e’,3b) [19] but after application of Leibovitz’s L-15 (Fig. 2f ’,3c) and CO2 Independent Medium (Fig. 2g’,3d).

According to manufacturer’s instructions L-15 Medium is buffered by its complement of salts, free base amino acids and galactose instead of glucose, while the CO2 Independent Medium is buffered by mono and dibasic sodium phosphate and β-glycerophosphate. Thus, both of these media are not so sensitive in respect to surrounding NaH2CO3 and CO2 as compared to Williams’ E Medium (Fig. 2a,a’), Basal Medium Eagle (Fig. 2b,b’), McCoy’s 5A Modified Medium (Fig. 2c,c’), Medium 199 (Fig. 2d,d’, 3a) and Iscove´s Modified Dulbecco´s Medium (Fig. 2e,e’, 3b). Keeping in mind further degradation of diseased renal parenchyma and the lack of peritubular capillaries only Leibovitz’s L-15 (Fig. 2f,f ’,3c) and CO2 Independent Medium (Fig. 2g,g’,3d) appear as optimal candidates to compensate variations in pH of interstitial fluid and to stand the influence of harmful environment.

Conclusion

Present experiments illustrate that Leibovitz’s L-15 (Fig. 2f,f ’,3c) and CO2 Independent Medium (Fig. 2g,g’,3d) appear suitable for the initial phase of implantation. Although both of the media exhibit the lowest content of glucose as compared to others (Table 1), they are able to maintain a constant pH independently from the actual NaH2CO3 and CO2 content in interstitial fluid of diseased parenchyma. The outcome of excellent morphology is a further argument to explore Leibovitz’s L-15 and CO2 Independent Medium more intensively in ongoing experiments. However, even important is that in present experiments no information is contained if both media exhibit a toxic influence on organ or systemic functions when implanted in the human organism.

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