A serum-free medium formulation efficiently supports isolation and propagation of canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells

Medium containing Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) provides a supportive environment for isolation and expansion of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs); however, the inherent variability of FBS may contribute to inconsistencies in cell growth and yield between batches of stem cell products. For this reason, we set out to develop a serum-free medium capable of supporting the in vitro expansion of MSCs. First a naive serum-free medium was formulated by Sato's approach. Once it was established that the naive serum-free medium supported the expansion of canine adipose-derived MSCs (Ad-MSCs), the serum-free medium was optimized by addition of growth factors. Combinations of growth factors were chosen and compared by their effect on cell proliferation and colony formation. Growth characteristics of canine adipose-derived MSCs cultured in the serum-free medium were comparable to those cultured in standard FBS containing medium. In addition, cell surface marker expression and differentiation potential of serum-free and FBS-based cultures were also comparable. However, a commercial serum-free medium developed for human MSC culture did not support growth of canine Ad-MSCs. In summary, canine Ad-MSCs isolated and cultured in serum-free medium retained the basic characteristics of MSCs cultured in FBS containing medium.