Cutting-edge Study Uses iPSC-derived Cells to Coat Blood
Vessels in Kidney Scaffolds
MADISON, Wis., Nov. 18, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cellular Dynamics
International (CDI) (Nasdaq:ICEL) today announced the publication1 of a
study in the American Journal of Transplantation describing a key first
step in ultimately rebuilding and eventually transplanting organs:
recreating a portion of the blood supply infrastructure. Jason
Wertheim, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery-Organ
Transplantation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,
used CDI’s iCell(R) Endothelial Cells to coat the blood supply system
of a kidney scaffold, which is crucial for circulation and nutrient
distribution throughout the tissue of any organ. This is a key first
step in repairing or regenerating organs for transplant.
Key points:
— Over 120,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant, and
another person is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes. The number
of transplants performed annually falls short of this need by 75%.2
— Patients with end-stage kidney disease account for almost 7% of Medicare
costs in the U.S.–costing close to $35 billion annually–but less than
1% of Medicare patients.3
— Not only is there a shortage of available organs, but often the organs
available are not suitable for transplant. Research suggests that these
organs can be rehabilitated by replacing the cellular components of the
organ with healthy human cells while maintaining the 3D structure of the
organ.
— Human cells differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
offer a potential solution to the lack of a readily available source of
human cells for use in tissue engineering and cell therapy.
— CDI’s technology allows iPSCs to be developed for anyone from a standard
doctor’s office blood draw and differentiated into potentially any cell
in the body at the quality, quantity and purity necessary for a
regenerative therapy.
— The published study describes the recellularization of a rat kidney
vasculature extracellular matrix using iCell Endothelial Cells derived
from human iPSCs.
— The first step in the study optimized the process of removing cells from
the rat kidney, leaving a 3D scaffold of the organ’s structure. Next, the
authors infused the scaffold with human renal cells to form tubule-like
structures, and human iCell Endothelial Cells to coat the blood vessels
lining the kidney.
— The authors found that the method of cell removal was important to
maintaining key proteins used by the blood vessel matrix. They
fluorescently labeled the endothelial cells and saw that indeed the
infused cells were incorporated into the blood vessel matrix throughout
the kidney scaffold.
— This research demonstrates the potential to generate the vasculature of a
complex 3D organ, a key first step in supplying the tissue with required
nutrients.
— Given that CDI’s technology allows patient-specific cells to be developed
potentially into any cell in the body, this work holds promise for the
future bioengineering of other complex organ tissues and for reducing the
chance of rejection, a key concern in any transplant.
Quotes:
Bob Palay, chief executive officer of CDI, said, “Over 120,000 people
are waiting for organ transplants. Unfortunately many are not able to
receive lifesaving organs in time. We are delighted to have
manufactured the iCell Endothelial Cells that Dr. Wertheim used in this
breakthrough study. He was able to use CDI’s manufactured human
endothelial cells to demonstrate the first step toward rebuilding the
blood supply system of a kidney. His work is important in uncovering
how manufactured human cells can be utilized to repair and regenerate
damaged organs. We look forward to continuing to work with Dr.
Wertheim’s and other investigators’ laboratories as they push forward
their efforts to repair and regenerate organs.”
Dr. Wertheim said, “Our study establishes an effective method to
generate a kidney scaffold that contains important proteins that may
direct cell growth in three-dimensions and is a first step toward
developing the vasculature of a replacement organ. We show that this
scaffold supports cell growth and proliferation, to generate structures
reminiscent of tubules and blood vessel-like structures lined by cells
made by induced pluripotent stem cell technology.” Dr. Wertheim does
not hold any financial conflict of interest with CDI or the content of
this press release.
1American Journal of Transplantation, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajt.12999/abstract
2US Dept of Health & Human Services,
http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/learn/about-transplantation/how-organ-allocation-works/
3American Society of Nephrology, https://www.asn-online.org/policy/fact-sheets.aspx
About Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.
Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CDI) is a leading developer and
manufacturer of fully functioning human cells in industrial quantities
to precise specifications. CDI’s proprietary iCell Operating System
(iCell(R) O/S) includes true human cells in multiple cell types (iCell
products), human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and custom
iPSCs and iCell products (MyCell(R) Products). CDI’s iCell O/S products
provide standardized, easy-to-use, cost-effective access to the human
cell, the smallest fully functioning operating unit of human biology.
Customers use our iCell O/S products, among other purposes, for drug
discovery and screening; to test the safety and efficacy of their small
molecule and biologic drug candidates; for stem cell banking; and in
the research and development of cellular therapeutics. CDI was founded
in 2004 by Dr. James Thomson, a pioneer in human pluripotent stem cell
research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. CDI’s facilities are
located in Madison, Wisconsin, with a second facility in Novato,
California. See www.cellulardynamics.com.
Follow us on Twitter @CellDynamics or www.twitter.com/celldynamics
Forward-looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not
descriptions of historical facts regarding Cellular Dynamics
International, Inc., including statements regarding the impact or
significance of the published research using our products described in
this press release, the potential of our products demonstrated by this
research, and the potential differentiation of iPSCs into any cell in
the human body, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the
current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” and similar expressions (as well as
other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or
circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements in this release involve substantial risks
and uncertainties that could cause our product development efforts,
actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Cellular
Dynamics undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those
expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks
relating to the business of the Company in general, see Cellular
Dynamics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 11, 2014, which risks are incorporated
herein by reference, and as may be described from time to time in
Cellular Dynamics’ subsequent SEC filings.
CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACTS:
Joleen Rau
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.
(608) 310-5142
jrau@cellulardynamics.com
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Russo Partners LLC
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Lisabeth Weiner
Lisabeth Weiner Consultants, Inc.
(312) 252-7360
(312) 485-6211 (cell)
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Investor Relations
Gitanjali Jain Ogawa
The Trout Group, LLC
646 378-2949
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