The authors acknowledge financial support from the Victorian Government&#8217;s Operational Infrastructure Support Program.

NOTE: Placentae should be collected from singleton healthy pregnancies, with a preference for term elective caesarean sections. Written, informed consent should be given for the collection of their placenta. Your relevant human research ethics committee should approval all collection and use of human tissues.
1. Isolation of Amnion Epithelial Cells
<ol style="margin-left: 40px;">
	<li>Place the placenta onto a sterile surface within a class II biological safety cabinet.</li>
	<li>Using steri...

<ol>
	<li>Murphy, S. V., Wallace, E. M., Jenkin, G., Appasani, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine. 1, 243-264 (2011).</li><li>Murphy, S. V., Atala, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Amniotic+fluid+and+placental+membranes:+unexpected+sources+of+highly+multipotent+cells.">Amniotic fluid and placental membranes: unexpected sources of highly multipotent cells.</a> Semin. Reprod. Med. 31 (1), 62-68 (2013).</li><li>Parolini, O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Concise+review:+isolation+and+characterization+of+cells+from+human+term+placenta:+outcome+of+the+first+international+Workshop+on+Placenta+Derived+Stem+Cells.">Concise review: isolation and characterization of cells from human term placenta: outcome of the first international Workshop on Placenta Derived Stem Cells.</a> Stem Cells. 26 (2), 300-311 (2008).</li><li>Lim, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preterm+human+amnion+epithelial+cells+have+limited+reparative+potential.">Preterm human amnion epithelial cells have limited reparative potential.</a> Placenta. 34 (6), 486-492 (2013).</li><li>Tamagawa, T., Ishiwata, I., Saito, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Establishment+and+characterization+of+a+pluripotent+stem+cell+line+derived+from+human+amniotic+membranes+and+initiation+of+germ+layers+in+vitro.">Establishment and characterization of a pluripotent stem cell line derived from human amniotic membranes and initiation of germ layers in vitro.</a> Hum Cell. 17 (3), 125-130 (2004).</li><li>Miki, T., Marongiu, F., Ellis, E., Strom, C. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+amniotic+epithelial+stem+cells.">Isolation of amniotic epithelial stem cells.</a> Curr Protoc Stem Cell Biol. 1, Unit 1E.3 (2007).</li><li>Murphy, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Amnion+epithelial+cell+isolation+and+characterization+for+clinical+use.">Amnion epithelial cell isolation and characterization for clinical use.</a> Curr Protoc Stem Cell Biol. 1, Unit 1E.6 (2010).</li><li>Ilancheran, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stem+cells+derived+from+human+fetal+membranes+display+multilineage+differentiation+potential.">Stem cells derived from human fetal membranes display multilineage differentiation potential.</a> Biol Reprod. 77 (3), 577-588 (2007).</li><li>Fliniaux, I., Viallet, J. 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C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stem+cell+characteristics+of+amniotic+epithelial+cells.">Stem cell characteristics of amniotic epithelial cells.</a> Stem Cells. 23 (10), 1549-1559 (2005).</li><li>Avila, M., Espana, M., Moreno, C., Pena, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reconstruction+of+ocular+surface+with+heterologous+limbal+epithelium+and+amniotic+membrane+in+a+rabbit+model.">Reconstruction of ocular surface with heterologous limbal epithelium and amniotic membrane in a rabbit model.</a> Cornea. 20 (4), 414-420 (2001).</li><li>Sankar, V., Muthusamy, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+human+amniotic+epithelial+cell+transplantation+in+spinal+cord+injury+repair+research.">Role of human amniotic epithelial cell transplantation in spinal cord injury repair research.</a> Neuroscience. 118 (1), 11-17 (2003).</li><li>Yuge, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transplanted+human+amniotic+epithelial+cells+express+connexin+26+and+Na-K-adenosine+triphosphatase+in+the+inner+ear.">Transplanted human amniotic epithelial cells express connexin 26 and Na-K-adenosine triphosphatase in the inner ear.</a> Transplantation. 77 (9), 1452-1454 (2004).</li><li>Li, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunosuppressive+factors+secreted+by+human+amniotic+epithelial+cells.">Immunosuppressive factors secreted by human amniotic epithelial cells.</a> Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 46 (3), 900-907 (2005).</li><li>Liu, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+amniotic+epithelial+cells+ameliorate+behavioral+dysfunction+and+reduce+infarct+size+in+the+rat+middle+cerebral+artery+occlusion+model.">Human amniotic epithelial cells ameliorate behavioral dysfunction and reduce infarct size in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model.</a> Shock. 29 (5), 603-611 (2008).</li><li>Venkatachalam, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+neurotrophic+factor+secreted+by+amniotic+epithelial+cells.">Novel neurotrophic factor secreted by amniotic epithelial cells.</a> Biocell. 33 (2), 81-89 (2009).</li><li>Manuelpillai, U., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+amniotic+epithelial+cell+transplantation+induces+markers+of+alternative+macrophage+activation+and+reduces+established+hepatic+fibrosis.">Human amniotic epithelial cell transplantation induces markers of alternative macrophage activation and reduces established hepatic fibrosis.</a> PLoS One. 7 (6), e38631 (2012).</li><li>Wei, J. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+amnion-isolated+cells+normalize+blood+glucose+in+streptozotocin-induced+diabetic+mice.">Human amnion-isolated cells normalize blood glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.</a> Cell Transplant. 12 (5), 545-552 (2003).</li><li>Murphy, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+amnion+epithelial+cells+prevent+bleomycin-induced+lung+injury+and+preserve+lung+function.">Human amnion epithelial cells prevent bleomycin-induced lung injury and preserve lung function.</a> Cell Transplant. 20 (6), 909-923 (2011).</li><li>Murphy, S. V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+amnion+epithelial+cells+induced+to+express+functional+cystic+fibrosis+transmembrane+conductance+regulator.">Human amnion epithelial cells induced to express functional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator.</a> PLoS One. 7 (9), e46533 (2012).</li><li>Murphy, S. V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+amnion+epithelial+cells+do+not+abrogate+pulmonary+fibrosis+in+mice+with+impaired+macrophage+function.">Human amnion epithelial cells do not abrogate pulmonary fibrosis in mice with impaired macrophage function.</a> Cell Transplant. 21 (7), 1477-1492 (2012).</li><li>Hodges, R. J., Lim, R., Jenkin, G., Wallace, E. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Amnion+epithelial+cells+as+a+candidate+therapy+for+acute+and+chronic+lung+injury.">Amnion epithelial cells as a candidate therapy for acute and chronic lung injury.</a> Stem cells Int. 2012, 709763 (2012).</li><li>Tan, J. L., Chan, S. T., Wallace, E. M., Lim, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+amnion+epithelial+cells+mediate+lung+repair+by+directly+modulating+macrophage+recruitment+and+polarization.">Human amnion epithelial cells mediate lung repair by directly modulating macrophage recruitment and polarization.</a> , (2013).</li><li>Litvinov, S. V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epithelial+cell+adhesion+molecule+(Ep-CAM)+modulates+cell-cell+interactions+mediated+by+classic+cadherins.">Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) modulates cell-cell interactions mediated by classic cadherins.</a> J Cell Biol. 139 (5), 1337-1348 (1997).</li><li>Winter, M. J., Nagtegaal, I. D., van Krieken, J. H., Litvinov, S. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+epithelial+cell+adhesion+molecule+(Ep-CAM)+as+a+morphoregulatory+molecule+is+a+tool+in+surgical+pathology.">The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) as a morphoregulatory molecule is a tool in surgical pathology.</a> The American journal of pathology. 163 (6), 2139-2148 (2003).</li><li>Musina, R. A., Bekchanova, E. S., Sukhikh, G. 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There are several critical parameters that can have a significant impact in the success of this methodology. Storage of the placenta or amnion for up to 3 hr before isolation of hAECs may be desirable for logistic or scheduling purposes, however it is recommended that the tissue is processed as soon as possible. If tissue is to be stored, it is recommended that storage be performed following dissection and washing of the amnion membrane. Amnion can be stored in sterile HBSS containing antibiotics at 4 &#176;C, however ce...

Cells derived from perinatal sources, such as the placenta, placental membranes, umbilical cord and amniotic fluid have attracted attention from researchers and clinicians as a potential source of cells for regenerative medicine1,2. The reason for this interest is that these cell types all possess some degree of plasticity and immunomodulatory capability3, properties that are fundamental to their potential therapeutic applications.
hAECs are a heterogeneous epithelial population that can be derived from term or pre-term amnion membrane4, providing an abundant potential source of regenerative cellular material. The properties that make hAECs appealing as a cellular therapy include their multipotency, low immunogenicity, and anti-inflammatory properties. hAECs have been found to be highly multipotent both in vitro and in vivo, capable of differentiating into mesodermal lineages (cardiomyocytes, myocytes, osteocytes, adipocytes), endodermal lineages (pancreatic cells, hepatic cells, lung cells) and ectodermal lineages (hair, skin, neural cells and astrocytes)5-10.
Reassuringly, despite their multipotency hAECs do not appear to either form tumors or promote tumour development in vivo. Furthermore, hAECs are also immune privileged, expressing low levels of class II human leukocyte antigens (HLAs)8. This property likely underlies their ability to evade immune rejection after allogeneic and xenogenic transplantation, as demonstrated in studies using immune competent monkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and pigs11-13. hAECs display potent immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive properties and thus offer significant practical advantages for potential clinical applications in autoimmune disease therapy. hAECs are believed to exert immunomodulatory functions on both the innate and adaptive immune systems. One of the mechanisms suggested, is through the secretion of immunomodulatory factors14.
Current applications of hAECs in pre-clinical animal disease models include the treatment of stroke, multiple sclerosis, liver disease, diabetes and chronic and acute lung diseases. Researchers have shown interest in using hAECs to treat post-stroke brain inflammation due to their unique properties. There is evidence that hAECs can cross the blood brain barrier where they can engraft, survive for up to 60 days, differentiate into neurons, decrease inflammation and promote regeneration of damaged central nervous system tissue in animal models of neurological diseases15.
hAECs offer the ability to target and reverse multiple pathological pathways that contribute to the development and progression of multiple sclerosis. For example, results from pre-clinical animal studies suggest that hAECs are strongly immunosuppressive and can potentially induce peripheral immune tolerance and reverse ongoing inflammatory responses. hAECs have also been shown to have the capacity to differentiate into neural cells in vivo and enhance endogenous neuroregeneration through the secretion of a vast array of neurotrophic factors16.
Human and rodent amnion epithelial cells have already demonstrated their therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of liver disease in animal models. In a carbon tetrachloride damage induction model of liver disease, hAEC transplantation lead to engraftment of viable hAECs in the liver, accompanied with reduced hepatocyte apoptosis, and decreased hepatic inflammation and fibrosis17.
hAECs can be stimulated to expressed pancreatic factors including insulin and glucose transporters. Several studies have investigated the potential for hAECs to restore blood glucose levels in diabetic mice18. In mice receiving hAECs, both animal body weight and blood glucose levels decreased to normal levels following injection of cells. These studies present a strong case for the use of hAECs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
hAECs have a proven role in the prevention and repair of experimental acute and chronic lung injury in both adult and neonatal models19. These studies found that hAECs differentiate in vitro into functional lung epithelial cells expressing multiple lung-associated proteins, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR), the ion channel that is mutated in patients with cystic fibrosis20. Additionally, when hAECs are delivered to the injured adult and neonatal lung, they exert their reparative effects via the modulation of host immune cells, reducing pulmonary leucocyte recruitment, including neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes21-23.
Given their abundance, safety record, and proven clinical applications for multiple diseases, clinical trials using hAECs is inevitable. With the goal of accelerating the translation of hAEC therapies into clinical-trials, we developed methods to isolate, cryopreserve and culture hAECs in a manner suitable for clinical trials, using animal product-free reagents in accordance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) guidelines.
We based this protocol a previously published protocol that we were using successfully to isolate hAECs using animal-derived reagents6. We altered the original protocol to replace animal-derived products with animal product-free reagents, and subsequent optimization was performed to optimize cell yield, viability and purity. Our goal was to develop a protocol that would comply with regulatory standards for cell manufacturing for human clinical trials.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="641">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:184px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Collection Kit</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Stripping tray</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">13-361B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:220px;">Liberty Dressing Forcep, pointed 13cm</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>S17329&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Scissors - Sharp/Blunt Straight</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>NC0562592&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sterile latex gloves&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>19-014-643&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Protective Apparel (Gown)</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">U-line</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S-15374-M</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Protective Apparel</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Isolation gowns</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">U-line</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S-15374-M</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sterile latex gloves&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>19-014-643&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">General purpose face mask</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Cardinal Health</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">AT7511</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Bonnets</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Medline</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">CRI1001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Shoe covers</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">U-line</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S-7873W</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Media and Reagents</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="33">
			<td height="33" style="height:33px;">Hanks&#8217; Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS)</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">14175095</td>
			<td>without calcium or magnesium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">TrypZean(animal product&#8211;free recombinant trypsin)</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T3449</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Soybean Trypsin Inhibitor&#160; 1g/50mL</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T6522</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cryostor CS5</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BioLife Solutions</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">205102</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="23">
			<td height="23" style="height:23px;">Trypan blue reagent</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15250-061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">anti-EpCam-PE</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130 - 091-253</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PE-isotype control</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-098-845</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">anti-CD90-PeCy5</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD Pharmingen</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">555597</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PeCy5-isotype control</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD Pharmingen</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">557224</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">anti-CD105-APC</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD Pharmingen</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">562408</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">APC-isotype control</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD Pharmingen</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">340754</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Collagen Type VI</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>C7521</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Consumables</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">50mL graduated pipette</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD/Falcon</td>
			<td>356550</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">10mL graduated pipette</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD/Falcon</td>
			<td>356551</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">5mL graduated pipette</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD/Falcon</td>
			<td>356543</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">50mL falcon tubes</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD/Falcon</td>
			<td>352070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">15mL falcon tubes</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD/Falcon</td>
			<td>352096</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">15-cm petri dishes</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Corning</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">351058</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">70-&#956;m filters</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD/Falcon</td>
			<td>352350</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">0.22-&#956;m filters</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Millipore</td>
			<td>SLGV033RS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">1ml Pipette tips</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Fisherbrand</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">02-707-401</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">200ul Pipette tips</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Fisherbrand</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">02-707-409</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">20ml Syringe</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BD/Medical</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">309661</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Plastic spatula</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>14-245-97&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Plastic weighing boat</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>02-202-102&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Cryo vials</td>
			<td>Nunc</td>
			<td>377267</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Mr Frosty</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A451-4&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:220px;">Biohazard Cabinet</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation, cryopreservation and culture of human amnion epithelial cells for clinical applications

Human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) derived from term or pre-term amnion membranes have attracted attention from researchers and clinicians as a potential source of cells for regenerative medicine. The reason for this interest is evidence that these cells have highly multipotent differentiation ability, low immunogenicity, and anti-inflammatory functions. These properties have prompted researchers to investigate the potential of hAECs to be used to treat a variety of diseases and disorders in pre-clinical animal studies with much success.
hAECs have found widespread application for the treatment of a range of diseases and disorders. Potential clinical applications of hAECs include the treatment of stroke, multiple sclerosis, liver disease, diabetes and chronic and acute lung diseases. Progressing from pre-clinical animal studies into clinical trials requires a higher standard of quality control and safety for cell therapy products. For safety and quality control considerations, it is preferred that cell isolation protocols use animal product-free reagents. 
We have developed protocols to allow researchers to isolate, cryopreserve and culture hAECs using animal product-free reagents. The advantage of this method is that these cells can be isolated, characterized, cryopreserved and cultured without the risk of delivering potentially harmful animal pathogens to humans, while maintaining suitable cell yields, viabilities and growth potential. For researchers moving from pre-clinical animal studies to clinical trials, these methodologies will greatly accelerate regulatory approval, decrease risks and improve the quality of their therapeutic cell population.

When this procedure is followed correctly, an average yield of 120 million hAECs should be expected, with a typical range of 80-160 million cells. From these yields, an average viability of 83 &#177; 4% can be expected. The increased average yield and slightly lower viability in the clinical method may be due to higher trypsin activity than the animal-derived product, and perhaps also due to the lack of serum proteins. Isolated hAECs have an average cell surface profile of 92% EpCAM positive cells with &#60;1% CD90, CD10...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation, Cryopreservation and Culture of Human Amnion Epithelial Cells for Clinical Applications at JoVE.com

Isolation, Cryopreservation and Culture of Human Amnion Epithelial Cells for Clinical Applications

We describe a protocol to isolate and culture human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) using animal product-free reagents in accordance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) guidelines.

Human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) derived from term or pre-term amnion membranes have attracted attention from researchers and clinicians as a ...

isolation-cryopreservation-culture-human-amnion-epithelial-cells-for

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

13.8K Views.  Wake Forest University Health Sciences. We describe a protocol to isolate and culture human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) using animal product-free reagents in accordance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) guidelines. 