Stem Cell Banking in Iran

Abstract

Stem cell banks with a number of qualified stem cell lines deposited are essential to facilitate biomedical applications of stem cells. Iran, which is active in the field of stem cell research and therapy and to meet the needs, has established stem cell banks. In this chapter, Iranian stem cell banks, which are divided into research and therapeutic banks, will be presented. We introduce here the Royan Stem Cell Bank (RSCB), Iran’s only research stem cell bank, and describe the process used for quality control and documentation. Finally, we discuss the future landscape of stem cell banking in Iran and the required steps for establishing good manufacturing practice (GMP) banks in order to improve the current state in Iranian stem cell therapy centers.

6 Appendix 1

1.1 6.1 RSCB Software

Because of having deposited the multiple cell lines, their variability and different passage numbers, with the help of Royan Institute bioinformatics experts RSCB designed and set up software for organizing this information. Right now this software is being used regularly for storage, retrieval, and sorting reports of the available cell lines in RSCB.

The system required for RSCB software installation:

• Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or other NT windows.

• Microsoft Office Excel and Microsoft Office Word 2003 or upper.

• Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or upper.

• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 or upper.

1.1.1 6.1.1 Software Installation

If the system is compatible with the software, a page will automatically appear (Fig. 12.5a) prompting the user to install the software in the desired location of computer’s hardware. After installation and for its first time application, user form requiring personal information must be filled (as an admin, administrator or public user) and sent to the bioinformatics group for receiving an activation code (each user and system will receive the code only once) (Fig. 12.5b, c).

Fig. 12.5

Software installation. (a) Installation menu. (b) At first installation step this box appears. (c) Registry form. In this form, a unique registry number will be shown and asked you to fill your information fields. After filling related form and submitting it, database manager will send you an email that shows manager’s decision. If you are permitted to access to the database you will gain a serial number

1.1.2 6.1.2 Application of the Software

After software activation, there are three types of connection for different servers (which can be defined) for using the program (Fig. 12.6a):

Fig. 12.6

Software entrance. (a) Welcome form. You can choose server connection type and database source. (b) Login form. In login form there are two radio buttons. The members can enter to the database by choosing “Database” icon or can add others and dedicate special usernames and passwords to new users by choosing “Add person” icon. (c) Database menu. Tabs of this menu could be changed based on dedicated user level. (d) Add person form. In this section new users are dedicated to access to the database

• Internet connection (wherever the Internet is accessible, connection to the software is possible).

• Local connection (which is applicable in the interior network of the defined server).

• This computer, the computer which is applicable only for the main server.

The next opened page requires user name and password received from the administrator (Fig. 12.6b).

In this step, the user can enter the data center (Fig. 12.6c) or, if the user is a program administrator, he or she can add other people as users (Fig. 12.6d).

After choosing data center, for admin users this page has searching, adding and editing tabs, which will be described later. For public users, only the search tab is active, whereas the management tab is only active for the manager.

1.1.3 6.1.3 Search in RSCB Software

Each user can access the RSCB information according to their needs. For example, choosing the “Availability” option will prompt the user to entering cell line specific code. As a result, the user will be informed about the number of available vials/straws for the particular cell line of interest (straw number is only for samples which have been frozen using vitrification method) (Fig. 12.7a). Furthermore, it is possible to define the minimum number of cryovials and straws. If their available number reduced drastically, the user would be informed by software alarm (Fig. 12.7b).

Fig. 12.7

Software searching. Interface of the program can do searching in two procedures: availability or whole search. By choosing availability search mode (a) for specific cell lines, result will appear (b)

For more information about the status of a cell line (e.g., establishment date, passage number, and cryopreservation method), the user should choose the “Whole” option. The user can narrow the search results by choosing different options cited on the “Search” page (Fig. 12.8a). On the result page, the user may narrow the results by choosing column option (Fig. 12.8b, c) and save them in an Excel format by choosing the print option (Fig. 12.8d).

Fig. 12.8

Whole software searching mode. By choosing whole search mode (a) several text boxes are shown and also you are asked to enter your cell line, passage number, and freeze date. Based on filled boxes, result will appear (b), through the “Properties” button you can limit the options (c), using “Print” button you can save the result (d)

By choosing catalog options, the user may access the cell line certificate file, which is in PDF format (the administrator can upload new cell lines certificates or update the previous ones). By choosing the “edit” option the user can view the cell line information and/or edit it. Apart from these methods, the user can use advanced search options (Fig. 12.9).

Fig. 12.9

Advanced search option

1.1.4 6.1.4 Adding Cryopreserved Cell Lines Information

To add new information on crypopreservation of cells, the user should first choose the organism type, then choose the applied cryopreservation method, and finally fill in the cryopreservation form and save the data (Fig. 12.10).

Fig. 12.10

Addition of frozen cell lines information. Based on filled boxes the user lead to “Cryopreservation” or “Vitrification” form to fill out

1.1.5 6.1.5 Editing Saved Information

The user can edit the data independently by entering each cell line ID and choosing its cryopreservation method (Fig. 12.11).

Fig. 12.11

Editing tab. Direct editing option via the ID. Each record according to its freezing method has a unique ID

1.1.6 6.1.6 Overall Management of the Program

The software is managed by an administrator, who has been defined and, among other, has also the following “privileges” (Fig. 12.12):

Fig. 12.12

Managing tab. Users with manager privilege have a high control on all data of the database and members who link to the database

• 1. Witnessing events: To view users’ activity with exact date and time.

• 2. Observing user names: To check the activity or lack of activity of each user.

• 3. Entering data: To enter text data.

• 4. Elimination of data: To delete part of a data or all of it.

• 5. Editing data: To edit saved data.

• 6. Recovery: To take a backup from data or recover them.

• 7. Data center configuration: To change data center names and send messages to users.

• 8. Blocking data center: To block the data center whenever alterations have to be done in order to prevent unpredictable errors.

• 9. Changing password.