METHOD FOR CRYOPRESERVATION OF CELLS USING A SIGNAL OR EFFECTOR PROTEIN/PEPTIDE WHICH AFFECTS THE OSMOREGULATION OR GENERAL TRANSPORTING PROCESSES OF THE CELLS
The present invention relates to the use of a signal or effector protein/peptide which affects the osmoregulation or general transporting processes of cells for cryoconservation and to a method for cryopreservation of cells using such a signal or effector protein/peptide. The claimed method comprises at least the following steps: a) contacting the cells with a signal or effector protein/peptide having at least one of the following properties : - capable to affect the osmoregulation of cells, - capable to affect general transporting processes in cells which result in notable differences of the physiological parameters of cooled cells before and after freezing and/or of the distribution of osmolytes and water in said cells, - capable to affect regulatory processes which involve membrane-bound transporters, for a predetermined time which is sufficient to allow the signal or effector protein/peptide to display a cryoprotective effect on said cells, and b) cooling the cells to a target temperature below 0°C. More specifically, the signal or effector protein/peptide is selected from the group comprising antidiuretic hormones, in particular vasopressin and its derivatives, aldosteron and its derivatives, cytokines, in particular TNF-α, that affect hypertonicity-induced cation channels (HICCs).La présente invention concerne lutilisation dune protéine/peptide signal ou effectrice qui influence les processus dosmorégulation ou de transport généraux des cellules pour la cryoconservation et un procédé de cryoconservation des cellules utilisant une telle protéine/peptide signal ou effectrice. Ce procédé comporte au moins les étapes suivantes : a) la mise en contact des cellules avec une protéine/peptide signal ou effectrice possédant au moins lune des propriétés suivantes : - la capacité dinfluencer losmorégulation des cellules, - la capacité dinfluencer les processus de transport généraux dans les cellules se traduisant par des différences notables des paramètres physiologiques
