Background Intravascular red cell hemolysis impairs NO-redox homeostasis, producing endothelial dysfunction, platelet activation and vasculopathy. Red blood cell storage under standard conditions results in reduced integrity of the erythrocyte membrane, with formation of exocytic microvesicles or “microparticles” and hemolysis, which we hypothesized could impair vascular function and contribute to the putative “storage lesion” of banked blood. Methods and Results We now find that storage of human red blood cells under standard blood banking conditions results in the accumulation of cell free and microparticle-encapsulated hemoglobin which, despite 39 days of storage, remains in the reduced ferrous oxyhemoglobin redox state and stoichiometrically reacts with and scavenges the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO). Using stopped-flow spectroscopy and laser triggered NO release from a caged NO compound we found that both free hemoglobin and microparticles react with NO about 1000 times faster than with intact erythrocytes. In complementary in vivo studies we show that hemoglobin, even at concentrations below 10 μM (in heme), produces potent vasoconstriction when infused into the rat circulation, while controlled infusions of methemoglobin and cyanomethemoglobin, which do not consume NO, have substantially reduced vasoconstrictor effects. Infusion of the plasma from stored human red cell units into the rat circulation produces significant vasoconstriction related to the magnitude of storage related hemolysis. Conclusions The results of these studies suggest new mechanisms for endothelial injury and impaired vascular function associated with the most fundamental of storage lesions, hemolysis.

Background The in vivo progenitor of culture-expanded mesenchymal-like adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) remains elusive, owing in part to the complex organization of stromal cells surrounding the small vessels, and the rapidity with which adipose stromal vascular cells adopt a mesenchymal phenotype in vitro. Methods Immunohistostaining of intact adipose tissue was used to identify 3 markers (CD31, CD34, CD146) which together unambiguously discriminate histologically distinct inner and outer rings of vessel-associated stromal cells, as well as capillary and small vessel endothelial cells. These markers were used in multiparameter flow cytometry in conjunction with stem/progenitor markers (CD90, CD117) to further characterize stromal vascular fraction (SVF) subpopulations. Two mesenchymal and two endothelial populations were isolated by high speed flow cytometric sorting, expanded in short term culture and tested for adipogenesis. Results The inner layer of stromal cells in contact with small vessel endothelium (pericytes) was CD146+/α-SMA+/CD90±/CD34−/CD31−; the outer adventitial stromal ring (designated supra adventitial-adipose stromal cells, SA-ASC) was CD146−/α-SMA−/CD90+/CD34+/CD31−. Capillary endothelial cells were CD31+/CD34+/CD90+ (endothelial progenitor), while small vessel endothelium was CD31+/CD34−/CD90− (endothelial mature). Flow cytometry confirmed these expression patterns and revealed a CD146+/CD90+/CD34+/CD31− pericyte subset that may be transitional between pericytes and SA-ASC. Pericytes had the most potent adipogenic potential, followed by the more numerous SA-ASC. Endothelial populations had significantly reduced adipogenic potential compared to unsorted expanded SVF cells. Conclusions In adipose tissue perivascular stromal cells are organized in two discrete layers, the innermost consisting of CD146+/CD34− pericytes, and the outermost of CD146−/CD34+ SA-ASC, both of which have adipogenic potential in culture. A CD146+/CD34+ subset detected by flow cytometry at low frequency suggests a population transitional between pericytes and SA-ASC.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, with no currently effective therapies. Several preclinical studies have shown that human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have therapeutic potential for patients with ARDS because of their immunomodulatory properties. The clinical use of hMSCs has some limitations, such as the extensive manipulation required to isolate the cells from bone marrow aspirates and the heterogeneity in their anti-inflammatory effect in animal models and clinical trials. The objective of this study was to improve the protective anti-inflammatory capacity of hMSCs by evaluating the consequences of preactivating hMSCs before use in a murine model of ARDS. We injected endotoxemic mice with minimally manipulated hMSCs isolated from the bone marrow of vertebral bodies with or without prior activation with serum from ARDS patients. Minimally manipulated hMSCs were more efficient at reducing lung inflammation compared with isolated and in vitro expanded hMSCs obtained from bone marrow aspirates. Where the most important effect was observed was with the activated hMSCs, independent of their source, which resulted in increased expression of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (RN), which was associated with enhancement of their protective capacity by reduction of the lung injury score, development of pulmonary edema, and accumulation of bronchoalveolar lavage inflammatory cells and cytokines compared with nonactivated cells. This study demonstrates that a low manipulation during hMSC isolation and expansion increases, together with preactivation prior to the therapeutic use of hMSCs, would ensure an appropriate immunomodulatory phenotype of the hMSCs, reducing the heterogeneity in their anti-inflammatory effect. STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2013;2:884 -895

SummaryIn the microcirculation, pericytes are believed to function as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We hypothesized that the vasa vasorum harbor progenitor cells within the adventitia of human aorta. Pericytes, endothelial progenitor cells, and other cell subpopulations were detected among freshly isolated adventitial cells using flow cytometry. Purified cultured pericytes were enriched for the MSC markers CD105 and CD73 and depleted of the endothelial markers von Willebrand factor and CD31. Cultured pericytes were capable of smooth muscle lineage progression including inducible expression of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, calponin, and α-smooth muscle actin, and adopted a spindle shape. Pericytes formed spheroids when cultured on Matrigel substrates and peripherally localized with branching endothelial cells in vitro. Our results indicate that the vasa vasorum form a progenitor cell niche distinct from other previously described progenitor populations in human adventitia. These findings could have important implications for understanding the complex pathophysiology of human aortic disease.

Background Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)‐peptide tetrameric complexes (tetramers) are valuable tools for detecting and characterizing peptide‐specific T cells. Because the frequency of these cells is generally very low, it may be difficult to discriminate between nonspecific and specific tetramer binding. Methods A four‐color flow cytometric assay that simultaneously measures tetramer, CD3, CD8, and CD14 was used to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of MHC class I tetramer staining. This was accomplished by using the influenza virus matrix protein peptide, GILGFVFTL (FLU), as a model recall antigen and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase peptide, ILKEPVHGV (HIV), as a model novel antigen. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 31 HLA‐A2.1+ and 10 HLA‐A2.1− healthy individuals were stained with the tetramers. Results The lower limit of detection was established at approximately 1/8,000. In HLA‐A2+ PMBC, frequencies of tetramer‐positive CD8+ T cells were log normally distributed and were high for FLU (1/910) but low for HIV (1/6,067). A novel competition assay, in which tetramer binding was shown to diminish subsequent staining with anti‐CD3 antibody, was used to confirm the specificity of tetramer binding to the T‐cell receptor (TCR) complex. The competition assay was validated by evaluating several anti‐CD3 antibodies and showing that in PBMC from HLA‐A2− subjects, spurious tetramer‐positive events (1/20,000) failed to compete with CD3 binding. For the “recall” FLU tetramer, the degree of competition was proportional to the frequency, suggesting a selection of high avidity cells. Although CD3 competition was also highly correlated with the intensity of tetramer staining, competition allowed the identification of false positive cases with relatively high tetramer staining intensity. Conclusion The data indicate that competition of CD3 binding allows confirmation of the specificity of tetramer binding to the TCR, extending the usefulness of tetramers in the frequency analysis of peptide‐specific T lymphocytes. Cytometry 41:321–328, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

In this technical note we describe a method to evaluate the cell surface proteome of human primary cell cultures and cell lines. The method utilizes the BD Biosciences lyoplate, a system covering 242 surface proteins, glycoproteins, and glycosphingolipids plus relevant isotype controls, automated plate-based flow cytometry, conventional file-level analysis and unsupervised K-means clustering of markers on the basis of percent of positive events and mean fluorescence intensity of positive and total clean events. As an example, we determined the cell surface proteome of cultured adipose stromal cells (ASC) derived from 5 independent clinical isolates. Between-sample agreement of very strongly expressed (n 5 32) and strongly expressed (n =16) markers was excellent, constituting a reliable profile for ASC identification and determination of functional properties. Known mesenchymal markers (CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105) were among the identified strongly expressed determinants. Among other strongly expressed markers are several that are potentially immunomodulatory including three proteins that protect from complement mediated effects (CD46, CD55, and CD59), two that regulate apoptosis (CD77 and CD95) and several with ectoenzymatic (CD10, CD26, CD13, CD73, and CD143) or receptor tyrosine kinase (CD140b (PDGFR), CD340 (Her-2), EGFR) activity, suggesting mechanisms for the antiinflammatory and tissue remodeling properties of ASC. Because variables are standardized for K-means clustering, results generated using this methodology should be comparable between instrumentation platforms. It is widely generalizable to human primary explant cultures and cells lines and will prove useful to determine how cell passage, culture interventions, and gene expression and silencing affect the cell-surface proteome. V C 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry

The data indicate that competition of CD3 binding allows confirmation of the specificity of tetramer binding to the TCR, extending the usefulness of tetramers in the frequency analysis of peptide-specific T lymphocytes.

Summary Multiple drug resistance, mediated by the expression and activity of ABC-transporters, is a major obstacle to antineoplastic therapy. Normal tissue stem cells and their malignant counterparts share MDR transporter activity as a major mechanism of self-protection. Although MDR activity is upregulated in response to substrate chemotherapeutic agents, it is also constitutively expressed on both normal tissue stem cells and a subset of tumor cells prior to the initiation of therapy, representing a built-in obstacle to therapeutic ratio. Constitutive and induced MDR activity can be detected in cellular subsets of disaggregated tissues, using the fluorescent substrates Rhodamine 123 and Hoechst 33342 for ABCB1 (also known as P-gp and MDR1) and ABCG2 (BCRP1). In this chapter, we will describe the complete procedure for the detection of MDR activity, including: (1) Preparing single-cell suspensions from tumor and normal tissue specimens; (2) An efficient method to perform cell surface marker staining on large numbers of cells; (3) Flow cytometer setup and controls; (4) Simultaneous measurement of Hoechst 33342 and Rhodamine123 transport; and (5) Data acquisition and analysis.