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Journal of Ovarian Research
Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

A protocol to isolate and qualify purified human preantral follicles in cases of acute leukemia, for future clinical applications

Authors: Elodie Mouloungui, Tristan Zver, Christophe Roux, Clotilde Amiot

Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian cortex can be associated with a risk of cancer cell reseeding. This issue could be eliminated by grafting isolated preantral follicles. Collagenase NB6 is an enzyme produced under good manufacturing practices (GMP) in compliance with requirements for tissue engineering and transplantation in humans and thus can be used to isolate preantral follicles from ovarian tissue in the framework of further clinical applications. Multicolor flow cytometry is an effective tool to evaluate the potential contamination of follicular suspensions by leukemic cells.

Methods

The efficiency of collagenase NB6 was evaluated in comparison to collagenase type IA and Liberase DH, in terms of yield, morphology and viability. A short-term in vitro culture of follicles isolated with collagenase NB6 was conducted for 3 days in a fibrin matrix. A modelization procedure was carried out to detect the presence of leukemic cells in follicular suspensions using multicolor flow cytometry (MFC).

Results

No statistical differences were found between collagenase NB6, Liberase DH (p = 0.386) and collagenase type IA (p = 0.171) regarding the number of human preantral follicles isolated. The mean diameter of isolated follicles was significantly lower with collagenase NB6 (p < 0.0001). The survival rate of isolated follicles was 93.4% (n = 272) using collagenase NB6 versus 94.9% (n = 198) with Liberase DH and 92.6% (n = 298) using collagenase type IA. Even after 3 days of in vitro culture in a fibrin scaffold, most of the isolated follicles were still alive after using collagenase NB6 (90.7% of viable follicles; n = 339). The rate of isolated Ki67-positive follicles was 29 ± 9.19% before culture and 45 ± 1.41% after 3 days. In 23 out of 24 follicular suspensions analyzed, the detection of leukemic cells by MFC was negative. The purification had no significant impact on follicle viability.

Conclusion

The isolation and purification of human preantral follicles were performed following good manufacturing practices for cell therapy. Multicolor flow cytometry was able to confirm that final follicular suspensions were free from leukemic cells. This safe isolation technique using collagenase NB6 can be considered for future clinical applications.
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Metadata
Title
A protocol to isolate and qualify purified human preantral follicles in cases of acute leukemia, for future clinical applications
Authors
Elodie Mouloungui
Tristan Zver
Christophe Roux
Clotilde Amiot
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Ovarian Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1757-2215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-017-0376-6

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