From Bovine to Human: Human Platelet Lysate
in Cell Culture and Translational Research
By Theresa Pina, Chief Growth Officer – Gulf Coast Blood
For more than
60 years, fetal bovine serum (FBS) has been widely used in mammalian cell
culture because it supports cell survival, attachment, and growth. However, its
continued use is being questioned due to scientific, ethical, regulatory, and
clinical concerns.
FBS is
animal-derived and not fully defined. Its composition can vary by lot,
supplier, and geographic source, which can affect reproducibility, scale-up,
and protocol transfer. FBS may also introduce unwanted biological risks,
including bovine viral material, mycoplasma, endotoxins, and other adventitious
agents. In translational and clinical research, another concern is that human
cells cultured with FBS may be exposed to bovine proteins, which can create
unnecessary xenogeneic risk if those cells are later intended for
patient-facing applications.
There are
also ethical concerns. FBS is collected from fetal bovine blood after the
slaughter of pregnant cows. As research institutions, funders, and regulators
place more emphasis on responsible sourcing, reproducibility, and
animal-component reduction, FBS use is receiving increased scrutiny.
Human
platelet lysate (hPL) is a strong human-derived, xeno-free alternative for many
human cell culture applications. Produced from screened human donor platelets,
hPL contains a mixture of platelet-associated growth factors and bioactive
proteins, including PDGF, FGF, TGF-beta, EGF, VEGF, and IGF. These components
support cell growth, survival, and functional activity. Because hPL is
human-derived, it can provide a more biologically relevant culture supplement
for human cells while reducing exposure to animal-derived proteins.
Research
supports the use of hPL in several applications, especially with human
mesenchymal stromal or stem cells. Studies have shown that hPL can support
strong cell expansion while maintaining important cell characteristics,
including surface marker expression, differentiation capacity, and functional
properties. A systematic review of hPL in hMSC culture concluded that hPL
should be considered a viable alternative to FBS, particularly for applications
moving toward clinical use.
Like any
biological material, hPL must be properly controlled. Its composition can vary
based on donor characteristics, platelet collection method, storage conditions,
pooling strategy, and manufacturing process. These risks can be reduced through
donor screening, traceability, pathogen testing, sterility testing, growth
factor profiling, lot qualification, and strong quality management systems.
Blood
center-sourced hPL offers added advantages because blood centers already
operate within established systems for donor eligibility, infectious disease
testing, traceability, inventory control, and quality oversight. Platelet units
can be tracked from donor to final product, supporting a more accountable and
regulatory-aligned supply chain.
For
researchers working with human cells, especially in translational research,
regenerative medicine, and cell therapy development, hPL deserves serious
consideration. It can support cell expansion, reduce xenogeneic risk,
strengthen ethical alignment, and help bridge the gap between research
protocols and patient-centered applications.
To learn more
about human platelet lysate or to discuss research and translational
applications, contact Gulf Coast Blood Research at gulfcoastbloodresearch.org.