A three-dimensional ex vivo tri-culture model mimics cell-cell interactions between acute myeloid leukemia and the vascular niche.

ABSTRACT: Ex vivo studies of human disease, such as acute myeloid leukemia, are generally limited to the analysis of two-dimensional cultures which often misinterpret the effectiveness of chemotherapeutics and other treatments. Here we show that matrix metalloproteinase-sensitive hydrogels prepared from poly(ethylene glycol) and heparin functionalized with adhesion ligands and pro-angiogenic factors can be instrumental to produce robust three-dimensional culture models, allowing for the analysis of acute myeloid leukemia development and response to treatment. We evaluated the growth of four leukemia cell lines, KG1a, MOLM13, MV4-11 and OCI-AML3, as well as samples from patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Furthermore, endothelial cells and mesenchymal stromal cells were co-seeded to mimic th

SUBMITTER: Bray LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5566030 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature