Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38441512›Full record

ArticleCytotherapy2024

Potency assay to predict the anti-inflammatory capacity of a cell therapy product for macrophage-driven diseases: overcoming the challenges of assay development and validation.

Samar Sadeghi, Laura Nimtz, Elke Niebergall-Roth, Alexandra Norrick, Stefan Hägele, Lena Vollmer, Jasmina Esterlechner, Markus H Frank, Christoph Ganss, Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek and 1 more

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cytotherapy, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. ABCB5⁺ mesenchymal stem cells enable high-ratio cellular augmentation of bone grafts without loss of osteogenic function.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Samar SadeghiRHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany.
Laura NimtzRHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany.
Elke Niebergall-RothRHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany.
Alexandra NorrickRHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany.
Stefan HägeleRHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany.
Lena VollmerRHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany.
Jasmina EsterlechnerRHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany.
Markus H FrankDepartment of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Christoph GanssRHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany.
Karin Scharffetter-KochanekDepartment of Dermatology and Allergic Diseases, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Mark Andreas KluthRHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG, Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: andreas.kluth@rheacell.com.
Rheacell (Germany) · DEEdith Cowan University · AUUniversität Ulm · DE

Funding

Stem Cell Integral Membrane Transporter ABCB5 and Dermal RegenerationP01AG071463 · NIA · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI Markus H. Frank · 2022 to 2026
$13.6M
ABCB5-positive stem cells for LSCD therapyR01EY025794 · NEI · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · PI NATASHA Y FRANK, Markus H. Frank · 2016 to 2026
$6.1M
Multipotent ABCB5-positive cell therapeutics for corneal diseaseR24EY028767 · NEI · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI FRANK, MARKUS H., FRANK, NATASHA Y · 2018 to 2022
$5.9M
Skin-Intrinsic Immunosuppressive Mesenchymal Stem Cells and aGVHDR01HL161087 · NHLBI · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI FRANK, MARKUS H., FRANK, NATASHA Y · 2022 to 2025
$1.7M
NEI NIH HHS R01 EY025794NEI NIH HHS R24 EY028767NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL161087NIA NIH HHS P01 AG071463
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGiven the high level of product complexity and limited regulatory guidance, designing and implementing appropriate potency assays is often the most challenging part of establishing a quality control testing matrix for a cell-based medicinal product. Among the most elusive tasks are the selection of suitable read-out parameters, the development of assay designs that most closely model the pathophysiological conditions, and the validation of the methods. Here we describe these challenges and how they were addressed in developing an assay that measures the anti-inflammatory potency of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in an M1 macrophage-dominated inflammatory environment.

methodsAn in vitro inflammation model was established by coculturing skin-derived ABCB5

resultsIL-1RA was quantified with guideline-concordant selectivity, accuracy and precision over a relevant concentration range. Consistent induction of the macrophage markers CD36 and CD80 indicated successful macrophage differentiation and M1 polarization of THP-1 cells, which was functionally confirmed by release of proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor α. Testing a wide range of MSC/macrophage ratios revealed the optimal ratio for near-maximal stimulation of MSCs to secrete IL-1RA, providing absolute maximum levels per individual MSC that can be used for future comparison with clinical efficacy. Batch release testing of 71 consecutively manufactured MSC batches showed a low overall failure rate and a high comparability between donors.

conclusionsWe describe the systematic development and validation of a therapeutically relevant, straightforward, robust and reproducible potency assay to measure the immunomodulatory capacity of MSCs in M1 macrophage-driven inflammation. The insights into the challenges and how they were addressed may also be helpful to developers of potency assays related to other cellular functions and clinical indications.

Indexed as

Cell- and Tissue-Based TherapyCoculture TechniquesInterleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist ProteinMacrophagesMesenchymal Stem CellsAnti-Inflammatory AgentsCell DifferentiationHumansInflammationTHP-1 CellsAnti-Inflammatory AgentsIL1RN protein, humanInterleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist ProteinABCB5immunomodulationinterleukin 1 receptor antagonistM1 macrophagesmesenchymal stromal cellspotency assay

Identifiers

PMID38441512
PMCPMC11065629
OpenAlexW4392392169

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.