Introduction
Appropriate clinical biopreservation of cells and tissues is a critical factor in hair transplantation procedures, as well as in regenerative medicine (cell therapies and tissue engineering) and organ preservation. During the course of a hair transplantation procedure, the cells and/or tissues experience multiple forms of stresses related to the procedure from before the donor strip and/or follicular units are extracted, through the dissection and graft holding stages, and past the point of re-implantation. There are certain cellular and biochemical aspects of the hair transplant model that are unique to the specific types of cells and tissues involved. However, there is also much that can be taken into consideration from other in vitro and clinical cell models relevant to regenerative medicine, as well as from existing organ/tissue preservation knowledge.
Under normal conditions, the environment of human cells and tissues consists of an isotonic osmotic balance of ions that is maintained by ATP-driven cell membrane pumps. Major ionic constituents include sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium—each regulated by membrane pumps/channels that, along with chloride, are actively pumped inside or outside the cell to counterbalance the osmotic pressure of non-permeable fixed molecules inside the cell and subsequently regulate the passive flow of water into and out of the cells. In this manner, although highly simplified, there is an intracellular milieu and an extracellular milieu that are distinctly different from one another. Under normothermic conditions (37°C, appropriate balance of oxygen/carbon dioxide, exchange of nutrients/wastes, etc.), the fluid bathing the cells and tissues is isotonic, or also referred to as extracellular-like. The normothermic flow of nutrients through the cellular metabolic pathways fuels the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) that, in turn, drives the membrane ion pumps to maintain the osmotic balance. Cellular waste products are expunged from the cells, and free radicals generated by normal metabolism are removed from potential negative impact by the cell’s antioxidant mechanisms. Only once these basic cell processes for maintaining “life” are in working order can the cell’s energies be directed to further functional cellular processes specific to that cell’s “job.”
When cells, tissues, and organs are disconnected from this “normal” set of conditions even for a short time, there are many potential unbalanced states leading to detrimental consequences. Absence of nutrients (glucose, oxygen, etc.) deprives the cells of the raw fuel components needed to generate the cell’s refined fuel, ATP. Short-term interruptions to the cell energy cycle can be compensated with derivation of cellular energy via the lactic acid cycle but cannot be maintained indefinitely. However, it is important to appreciate that the overall cell machinery is a highly complex engine of parts and pathways that generates intermediate compounds from specialized reactions at specific steps, and that there are aspects of this cellular engineering that cannot currently be artificially replicated in the laboratory or by cell culture media. Furthermore, it is also important to remember the critical functions of waste removal and gas exchange, which often require specialized laboratory equipment to effectively compensate in the absence of the natural cellular mechanisms. Therefore, current attempts to replicate out-of-body normothermic conditions have the potential to be incomplete and suboptimal.
Cellular and Molecular Considerations for Biopreservation
Biopreservation can be described as processes that suppress degradation of biologics for the post-preservation recovery of structure, viability, and function.1,2 Hypothermic storage (primarily 2°-8°C) has been the preferred practical mechanism for storing cells, tissues, and organs for short periods of time (such as applicable in typical hair transplantation procedures). The ability of hypothermia to suppress metabolism is the key to maintaining cells, tissues, and organs under ischemic conditions. 3 The beneficial properties of hypothermia have been appreciated for a number of years. For example, in 1939, surface cooling of ischemic limbs was found to confer preservation ability for rat limb survival.4 In the 1950s, hypothermia played an important role in the development of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery,5,6 and in 1969 the demonstration that cold storage was an effective means of kidney preservation7 stimulated the development of cold storage solutions for the purpose of organ preservation. Ambient storage results in limited reduction of metabolic demands (cells/tissues) and higher rates of enzymatic and/or structural decay (cells/tissues, blood, plasma, proteins, nucleic acids). Refrigerated/hypothermic (2°-8°C) storage allows for greater reduction in degradation related to ischemia/hypoxia and enzymatic decay, based on the Q10 equation principle that most metabolic reactions will slow down approximately 50% for every 10°C decline in temperature from normothermic conditions.3 However, the protective conditions of hypothermia may also introduce potential stresses. The same characteristics of hypothermia that confer protection for cells/tissues (reduced metabolic demand) result in inactivation of ATP-driven ion pumps that would normally maintain osmotic balance, membrane phase changes, organelle instability, free radical generation, water flux, and ultimately, the accumulation of stresses that may cause cell death via apoptosis, necrosis, and/or secondary necrosis.8-21 These conditions are exacerbated by storage/holding media that typically consist of culture media or saline. Culture media and saline are osmotically characterized as isotonic/extracellular-like solutions; that is, their ionic balance is similar to normothermic extracellular fluid. While suited for maintenance of cells at normothermic temperature (37°C) in cell culture conditions that mimic native environments, these extracellular-like solutions do not balance the hyperosmotic cells during low temperature preservation, and hence amplify the preservation-induced stress for cells and tissues since both the cells and the extracellular-like holding solutions lack active and passive mechanisms for modulating the hyperosmotic state.
From the moment that a biospecimen (such as a hair transplant donor strip and grafts of follicular units) is obtained by removal from the native environment, a degradation process begins and stresses accumulate. Ex vivo hypothermic conditions are utilized as a first step for slowing the rate of degradation of grafts. Under normal conditions in vivo, cells are bathed in an extracellular medium that is high in sodium and low in potassium compared to the interior of the cell. Plasma membrane ion pumps, such as the Na+-K+ ATPase that maintains the sodium and potassium gradients, use much of the energy produced from oxidative phosphorylation. For example, the maintenance of the Na+, K+, H+, and Ca+2 ion concentrations in nerve and kidney cells account for as much as 25% of the ATP utilized, and as much as 50% of available ATP is used in erythrocytes for ion balance.22 As mentioned previously, the maintenance of the levels of key ions outside the cell counteracts the osmotic pressure resulting from intracellular proteins, macromolecules, and organelles.23 Anaerobic hypothermia, which is inevitable during standard ex vivo strip/graft storage intervals, results in decreased ATP production and suppressed activity of the ion pumps,24 even as hypothermic storage provides the benefits of decreased metabolic rate and reduced demand for ATP. As a result of hypothermia in the absence of an optimized preservation solution (such as when cells are in isotonic saline solutions), many ions diffuse along their gradients into and out of the cell. Consequently, there is often cellular swelling because of water movement into the cell that may ultimately result in cellular lysis.25
Glycolysis for energy production continues under hypothermic conditions, although at a highly reduced level. Glycolysis is blocked at several points due to the inactivation of regulatory enzymes such as glycogen phosphorylase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.26 In addition, the enzymes of the citric acid cycle are known to undergo conformational changes as a result of hypothermia (pyruvate kinase, glutamate dehydrogenase, arginosuccinase). Due to low-level glycolytic activity and disruption of the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, lactic acid production results, as well as generation of hydrogen ions. The resulting intracellular acidosis (and tissue acidosis) causes lysosomal instability and cellular degradation.27
Considering the multiple steps of a hair transplantation procedure, there are a number of points where the tissue and cells might be negatively affected due to stress factors. Prior to excision, epinephrine at the donor site causes anoxia. The donor strip, or follicular units, is physically extracted from native tissue. This interferes with nutrient/waste exchange from the normal blood supply. Tissue and cells that are normally protected from the outer environment are now exposed to atmospheric O2/CO2, different temperatures, and potential airborne pathogens. The cells and tissue would begin a degradation process, but this may be somewhat slowed temporarily by placing the tissues into a hypothermic condition. According to surveys conducted by Cotterill/ISHRS, this usually is achieved by placing the strip and grafts into chilled normal saline.28 Some hair transplant physicians may utilize modified isotonic solutions such as Plasma-Lyte®, Lactated Ringer’s®, DMEM, or William’s E (although none of these isotonic-based solutions are utilized for effective cell/tissue biopreservation in other arenas such as regenerative medicine or organ preservation, and culture media such as DMEM/William’s E may not fit the Quality/Regulatory footprint for clinical applications, especially if additives are utilized at point of care which represents a potential contamination risk). Slivers one to two follicular units thick are removed from the strip via microscopic dissection, which is often a period of warming due to the heat emitted from the microscope lamp. At this stage, slivers are often placed once again in chilled solution until they are again dissected under a microscope into individual follicular unit grafts. This periodic exchange between chilled storage and warming intervals can be a point of variable stress, especially depending on the number of grafts. Eventually, rewarming on the gloved hand of the physician pending placement varies from less than a minute to probably 5 to 8 minutes or more in some practices.29 Finally, healing of the graft and revascularization to support long term survival is another point of variability and stress; for example, transplanted hair follicles may require ~3 days for revascularization to replenish the new blood supply.30,31 During this entire process, there is also the potential for dehydration, transection, in-process blunt trauma, and ischemia reperfusion injury following implantation of the grafts.32,33 A review of these steps within the hair transplantation procedure offers approximately a dozen points of potential stress to the tissues and cells. Limmer reported the steady decline in graft viability in correlation with graft storage time,34 which was also reported by Kim and Hwang.35,36 Cooley demonstrated the extensive generation of potentially harmful free radicals following graft reimplantation.32 Krugugler reported the onset of DNA fragmentation, and the benefits of antioxidants within the storage solution.37,38 Parsley and Perez-Meza nicely reviewed a wide variety of considerations related to the topic of strip/graft storage.33 Other cell models have shown that similar stresses result in a variety of molecular responses within the cell, even for short periods, sometimes in manners that are not visible with simple viability assessment methods.39,40 Any “stress” tends to elicit a response within the cell, with subsequent cell damage being dependent on whether the cell is able to “manage” the stresses (similar to our own ability to manage the cumulative impact of personal and physical stresses). Cellular and molecular responses that can be triggered by the various potential stresses within a routine hair transplant procedure may involve biochemical perturbations,41-43 generation of cold shock proteins,44 change in cell volume,45 which can also affect the cell membrane, protein uncoupling,46 unfolded protein response,47 and various mechanisms of cell death from suboptimal biopreservation11,13,48 and temperature variations49 that manifest at the genomic, proteomic, mitochondrial, membrane, and enzymatic levels of the cell,11,13,15,50-53 Simply, the more stresses on the cells and tissues, the less likelihood of cellular recovery and more likelihood of cell damage or death. Mechanisms of “buffering” or reducing the accumulation of stresses during the procedure would benefit graft recovery. (Note: We have not even touched on the impact of patient variability as a potential enhancer of cell stress yet; however, this is discussed below).
Focus on the Preservation Solution for Graft Holding
An effective cold storage solution utilized during the graft holding stage of hair transplantation requires components that will provide an optimal concentration of ions and impermeant molecules to maintain ionic and osmotic balance during hypothermic dysregulation of homeostasis.8 An intracellular-like solution, as opposed to an isotonic/extracellular-like solution such as culture media or saline, is one that closely balances the altered cellular ion concentrations that result from and at hypothermic temperatures and nutrient deprived conditions that exist when cells, tissues, or organs are without normal blood supply at normothermic conditions. Aside from the ionic concentrations in an optimized preservation solution designed to balance the ions of cells during hypothermia, there are several additional considerations that are important to hypothermic preservation. The solution should contain impermeant molecules replacing chloride ion (Cl-) in the extracellular space. The decreased activity of the Na+ pump during hypothermia results in increased Na+ levels within the cell, and subsequently results in increased Cl- levels within the cell to maintain the balance of charges. The increased osmotic pressure within the cell causes an influx of water from the extracellular fluid that induces cell swelling and lysis (in the absence of an appropriate preservation solution). Glucose may serve as a source of energy during cold storage. However, excess glucose during this metabolically depressed and oxygen deprived state will favor the production of lactic acid, resulting in cellular acidosis.54 Therefore, glucose should be present at very low levels. An effective buffer is also critical to the system. Normally, cells and tissues are buffered primarily by the bicarbonate buffer system. However, bicarbonate is not the most effective of buffers at low temperatures.42,43 Finally, upon recovery from cold storage, energy substrates can aid the synthesis of ATP for the increased metabolic demands of the cell.55 All of these considerations are important components of an optimized hypothermic preservation solution that is designed to maintain ionic and osmotic balance, prevent acidosis, and prevent cell swelling. With the evolution of optimized preservation media, the use of these solutions greatly advanced the field of organ transplantation, and this success has prompted the development and use of optimized preservation solutions for collection, storage, and transport of other biologic materials such as tissues and cells.
Traditional approaches to low temperature biopreservation often focused on the biophysical parameters of the system—ice management in frozen storage, cell volume, water content, etc. This approach laid a strong foundation for the science of preservation, and allowed for utilization of low temperature preservation as a tool for increasing the stability of cells and tissues. Further development of the science of biopreservation brought together the disciplines of cryobiology, cell biology, and molecular biology, as well as recognized that biopreservation methods involve many common stress pathways that result in biologically related mechanisms of cell death (apoptosis, necrosis, and secondary necrosis). This engineered approach for improved biopreservation (i.e., holding/storage) solutions for cells and tissues led to the development of the intracellular-like HypoThermosol® platform of low temperature preservation solutions that incorporates the discussion points mentioned previously such as balanced ions and impermeants, targeted pH buffering, potent free radical scavengers, and mitigation of apoptosis and necrosis.8-21,56
This improved biopreservation protocol of using an intracellular-like solution has been qualified by a number of regenerative medicine therapies including cardiac applications,57-58 stem cell applications,59 and dermal fibroblast applications.60 To personify the difference to the cell between isotonic solutions (normal saline, Plasma-Lyte, Lactated Ringer’s) and an optimized intracellular-like solution (such as HypoThermosol®-FRS), imagine being in Minnesota in the cold of winter; isotonic solutions (balanced for cells and tissues at 37°C/98.6°F) are like a tank top (saline) or T-shirt (Plasma-Lyte, Lactated Ringer’s). A brief exposure to the cold may be uncomfortable, cause a cellular response such as the equivalent of “shivering,” and may cause non-lethal damage. But wearing an insulated winter coat (optimized intracellular-like solution) makes the short exposure easier to bear, and is of more noticeable benefit with longer exposure to that cold exposure—or of more benefit to those (cells) more sensitive to the cold.
Figures 1 and 2 highlight the variability in preservation efficacy between an intracellular-like biopreservation solution and traditional isotonic storage media.
Graft Holding Temperature
A number of discussions within the hair transplant arena have also focused on the appropriate strip/graft holding temperature. Some have reported adequate graft recovery following ambient storage,33,35,36 some have advocated using a temperature that straddles the fine line between freezing temperatures and non-freezing temperatures (0°C),62 and many methods utilize the chilling temperature of 4°C.32,33,63,64 It is of noted interest that positive graft survival results have resulted from a wide range of temperature (0°C to ambient), however, there is certainly variability in the interpretation of graft “quality” within the hair transplant arena. As mentioned above, hypothermic temperatures offer the advantage of reducing metabolic degradation and reducing stress related to hypoxia/ischemia, similarly to that demonstrated in the organ preservation field. Beehner also reported a reduction in blunt trauma of the follicles associated with hypothermic temperatures.65 This is logical as the use of hypothermia likely limited the cumulative stresses occurring in grafts. Due to the difficulty in realistically maintaining an exact temperature under various conditions of hold or transport, industry cGMP (US FDA Current Good Manufacturing Practices) cold management tends to utilize the range of 2°-8°C with a target point set as 4°C when referring to hypothermic preservation of cells and tissues. The concept of utilizing 0°C is certainly within logical reason if one appreciates the use of hypothermia to suppress metabolism. There are two considerations when dealing with 0°C as a target for cold storage. First, the reason that 4°C is considered “optimal” for hypothermic preservation of cells is because water has its maximum density of 1g/cm3 at 4°C, which then may affect osmotic fluctuations. Secondly, 0°C has the potential for ice crystal formation if temperature fluctuates below 0°C. Metabolically, 0°C will slightly lower the metabolism compared to 4°C but not by much (comparative range of 5% vs. 3.75% of normothermic metabolism), and it could be argued that the increased risk of slight temperature fluctuations below freezing that could cause damaging ice crystals may not be worth the risk.
ATP within Hair Transplantation
Recently, there has been growing interest in and reports of the utilization of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) as part of hair transplant procedures. This is an avenue of logical targeted intervention, as some of the damaging effects of ischemia/hypoxia are based on the inability to support maintenance of cellular energy. However, it should be noted that not all forms of delivering ATP to the cell are equivalent in efficacy. The ATP molecule itself is only capable of relatively short stability, especially during preservation. Therefore, effectively delivering ATP to the cell is also due consideration. Cooley66 and Beehner67 have reported promising results from long-term cold storage of grafts that were maintained in the combination of an intracellular-like preservation solution (HypoThermosol-FRS) and a liposomal embodiment of ATP. The novel liposomal ATP is based on Ehringer’s work at the University of Louisville68 where the ATP is packaged within liposomes (lipid membranes) that are able to fuse with the cell’s own bilipid membrane to efficiently deliver ATP into the cell. Further studies are warranted, however, this promising combination method brings together one method of reducing stress during graft storage (intracellular-like HypoThermosol media) with another method that targets a cellular deficiency during and after graft storage (effective delivery of ATP inside the cell). Cooley showed that in an enhanced stress model to highlight potential avenues for cellular preservation, grafts stored in saline resulted in 0% survival, and grafts stored in HypoThermosol-FRS demonstrated 44% survival.66 This comparison alone highlights the benefits of improved biopreservation using an intracellular-like holding solution. Furthermore within this same single-patient study, Cooley reported that grafts stored in the combination of HypoThermosol-FRS and liposomal ATP exhibited 72% survival. Figure 3 highlights the visual results reported by Cooley in this single-patient study for the HypoThermosol®FRS + liposomal ATP sample set.
Further Summary Considerations
Hair transplant physicians operate under the practice of medicine with appreciable flexibility within their clinical methods. Hair transplant physicians can also appreciate an aspect of what they do as a form of regenerative treatment for the patient (with each ISHRS Annual Meeting there also seems to be increased profile of the cell-based hair regenerative medicine treatments from groups such as Intercytex, Aderans, RepliCel, etc.). Within the regenerative medicine field (cell therapy and tissue engineering), regulatory agencies provide guidance for the use of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). One aspect that is advised within cGMP is risk management, where assessment and mitigation of potential system risks is mandated to ensure appropriate quality of the manufactured end therapeutic product. Similarly, within a hair transplant procedure, one inherent goal is to maximize the quality of the transplant (graft survival, hairline design, graft density, scalp irritation/edema, rate of regrowth, hair shaft thickness, etc.). As mentioned above, there are multiple points of stress within a procedure that could affect the transplant quality and there are a variety of holding/storage solutions utilized for in-process graft holding. This one step in the transplantation procedure is worth further examination to assess whether clinical practice and current methods are aligned with cGMP guidance for risk mitigation and management. Again, the improved biopreservation protocol of using an intracellular-like solution has been qualified by a number of regenerative medicine therapies including cardiac applications,57-58 stem cell applications,59 and dermal fibroblast applications.60
As noted by Parsley and Perez-Meza, there may be some discrepancy between the often-reported high graft survival rates and the overall actual percentage of graft survival across the variable patient pool.33 In the best examples used of patients with >90% graft survival, there may be limited room for perceived or actual improvement. However, there are several considerations to weigh. If the patients who do not enter the procedure with the best quality scalp, donor tissue, and health have the potential to bring pre-existing stresses into the procedure even before the first extraction, there is the strong possibility that the further stresses outlined above during the procedure may result in cumulative stresses that compromise the quality of the transplant. Even with rigorous patient screening, it may be difficult to fully know the variable preconditions (intangibles) a patient brings into the procedure that might negatively impact the quality of the transplant. Therefore, any potential stress mitigation steps (such as improved holding solutions) may reduce the likelihood of an unsatisfied patient. The strip/graft holding steps of the hair transplantation procedure are of critical importance to the success of the hair transplant. This review highlights much information that has been accumulated regarding cell, tissue, and organ biopreservation, with many topics still for further scientific examination. The lessons from organ transplant and regenerative medicine offer insight toward methods of using optimized intracellular-like hypothermic storage media for improved graft ex vivo preservation as one step in continuously maximizing patient outcomes.
- Copyright © 2013 by The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery