Advance Regenerative Medicine and Muscle Biology with ScienCell's Primary Human Skeletal Cell Systems
 

Unlock Deeper Insights into Muscle Physiology

ScienCell Research Laboratories offers a robust foundation for skeletal muscle research with our high-purity Human Skeletal Muscle Cells (HSkMC, Cat. #3500). These cells are isolated from adult human skeletal muscle and cryopreserved at passage one to ensure optimal viability and physiological relevance. Cultured in our proprietary Skeletal Muscle Cell Medium (SkMCM, Cat. #3501), HSkMCs provide a powerful tool to study muscle differentiation, myogenesis, and tissue regeneration. 
 

Human Skeletal Muscle Cells (HSkMC) Catalog No. 3500

Expand Your Research Horizons with ScienCell's Diverse Dermal Fibroblasts!

Dermal fibroblasts, derived from the embryonic mesoderm are fundamental components of the skin's dermis layer. Their versatility and ease of culture make them extensively used in cellular and molecular studies. Due to their durability, they are also suitable for a variety of manipulations, such as gene transfection and microinjection.

Key Insights: 

• Extracellular Matrix Producers: Fibroblasts are known to secrete a non-rigid extracellular matrix (ECM) that is rich in type I and/or type III collagen.
• Organ-Specific Differences: While sharing common traits, evidence suggests that fibroblasts from different organs are intrinsically different.
• Central to Wound Healing: A critical function of dermal fibroblasts is their involvement in wound healing. During this process, they demonstrate plasticity, transitioning from a proliferative, migratory state to a contractile, matrix-remodeling state. This plasticity is considered

The fourth Tuesday in March is #AmericanDiabetesAlertDay. Today, we highlight this global health concern and emerging standards of care for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and how #primarycellmodels might support the ongoing research to combat these diseases.

Though characterized by dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells and hyperglycemia, #diabetes is a multisystem #metabolicdisorder affecting the adipose tissue, cardiovascular system, liver, and reproductive systems. [1] The strong correlation between obesity and type 2 diabetes has led to the rise of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) agonists approved first for type 2 diabetes treatment, and now for obesity treatment. [2] The most widely used #GLP-1 medications, #dulaglutide, #semaglutide, and #tirzepatide, have proven to reduce HbA1c levels and obesity. Beyond improvements in glucose control and weight management, GLP-1Ras have shown evidence-based reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (#MACE), heart failure,

This kit is a valuable tool for researchers studying the monkeypox virus, and we are proud to offer it to the scientific community.

What is the Monkeypox Virus?

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a zoonotic virus that can infect both humans and animals. It belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family.

The virus has two distinct genetic clades: the Central African clade and the West African clade. The Central African clade is considered more transmissible and causes more severe disease.

What is the ScienCell's Monkeypox Virus Detection Kit (MPXVD, #RU7178) Kit?

The MPXVD kit is designed to detect the presence of the monkeypox virus in various sample types, including dry swabs, wet swabs, cell lysates, body fluids, and other biological specimens. The kit includes all the necessary components for DNA extraction, qPCR amplification, and result interpretation, making it a comprehensive solution for monkeypox virus detection.

Key Features of the MPXVD Kit:

• Detects Both Clades: The kit

What is DNA/RNA Isolation?

DNA/RNA isolation, also referred as nucleic acid purification, is the process of extracting and purifying DNA or RNA from biological samples like cells, tissues, and body fluids.

The purpose of DNA/RNA isolation is to obtain pure nucleic acid samples free from contaminants and inhibitors. These contaminants can include proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and other cellular debris that can interfere with downstream applications.

Isolation kits, such as those offered by ScienCell, provide standardized and efficient methods for DNA/RNA isolation. These kits typically use spin column-based technologies that utilize specific buffers and reagents to lyse cells, bind nucleic acids to a membrane, wash away contaminants, and finally elute purified DNA or RNA.

Here are just a few examples of how purified DNA/RNA can be used in research and clinical settings:

• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): Amplifying specific DNA sequences for various applications, including gene cloning,

The central nervous system (CNS) is a complex network of neurons and glia that play critical roles in human brain function. Neurons are the primary signaling units of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting information throughout the body.

• A single neuron can contact up to 10,000 other neurons, highlighting the intricate connectivity of the brain.

• The cerebral cortex, the outermost layer of the brain, is responsible for higher-level functions such as perception, language, decision-making, and memory.

Studying the CNS can be challenging, but in vitro models like primary neurons and 3D human cortical spheroids offer valuable tools for research.

Primary Neurons

ScienCell Research Laboratories provides a variety of primary neurons isolated from different species:

• Human Neurons (HN, Cat. #1520): Isolated from human brain tissue.

• Mouse Neurons-cortical (MN-c): Isolated from embryonic day 18 mouse cerebrum, available from both CD-1 ( Cat. #M1520) and C57BL/6 (Cat. #M1520-57) mice.

Interleukins (IL) are a group of cytokines initially believed to be expressed solely by leukocytes, but they are now known to be produced by a variety of cells of the body. These proteins are crucial for activating and differentiating immune cells and play roles in cell proliferation, maturation, migration, and adhesion. They possess both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties, making them essential for modulating growth, differentiation, and activation during inflammatory and immune responses. By binding to high-affinity receptors on cell surfaces, interleukins can trigger numerous reactions in cells and tissues. (Vaillant & Qurie, 2022)

ScienCell currently offers the following Interleukins growth factors:

Recombinant Human Interleukin-2 (rhIL-2, Catalog #101-02) is a powerful immunoregulatory lymphokine produced by T-cells in response to antigenic or mitogenic stimulation. It is expressed by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, γδ T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, and eosinophils. IL-2/IL-2R

ScienCell exclusively offers qPCR-based assay kits for the accurate, simple, and fast telomere length quantification of various species samples:

Absolute

Includes a reference gDNA sample with known telomere length. This kit can be used to calculate a sample's actual telomere length in kb.

For more information, please visit

• Absolute Human Telomere Length Quantification qPCR Assay Kit (Cat.# 8918)
• Absolute Mouse Telomere Length Quantification qPCR Assay Kit (Cat.# M8918)
• Absolute Rat Telomere Length Quantification

The ocular lens is a transparent structure in the eye that is designed to refract and focus light onto the retina. The lens is an avascular unit which includes the lens capsule, lens epithelium, and lens fibers. Lens fiber cells form the bulk of the lens and a monolayer of epithelial cells cover the anterior surface of the fibers. Lens epithelial cells perform a number of critical functions in the lens including the growth and development of the lens, fluid transport, protecting the lens from environmental and oxidative stress, and maintaining the homeostasis of the lens. Lens epithelial cells are also critical for metabolic activity in the ocular lens, and this activity can be affected by epithelial cell differentiation. During development, lens epithelial cells migrate from the equatorial region to the interior to produce transparent crystallins and develop into lens fiber cells. The crystallins help to maintain the transparency of the lens, but during aging are modified or degraded resulting

Telomere “caps” are located at the ends of all chromosomes, including those of the immune system’s T-lymphocytes (T cells), and become shorter with every cell division. Once these chromosomes reach a point where the telomere is too short to provide adequate protection, division ceases and the cell proceeds to senescence. The loss of immune cells to this process negatively impacts the functionality of the immune system, leading to chronic health conditions and/or cancerous diseases. This process is one of the primary factors related to aging, and current dogma suggests that the only way to counteract telomere shortening is through the DNA synthesizing enzyme telomerase. However, an exciting new study published in Nature Cell Biology has identified a previously unknown mechanism of combating telomere aging.

In the paper, titled “An intercellular transfer of telomeres rescues T cells from senescence and promotes long-term immunological memory”, Lanna et al. found that during T cell immune

Isolation of high-quality nucleic acids from biological material is a key factor in successful molecular biology research. While approaches vary, most methods aim to do the following: (1) disrupt the cellular structure, (2) denature and inactivate other macromolecules (e.g., proteins, enzymes, etc.), and (3) separate nucleic acids from cell debris and any contaminants.  Some common approaches include organic extraction (e.g., phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol method), differential precipitation (e.g., “salting out” method), and solid-phase extraction, which is the most widely used method today.  Solid-phase extraction utilizes the selective binding of nucleic acids to an ion-exchange matrix, silica-based membrane, magnetic silica particles or other chemistries using appropriate buffer conditions.

Considering time and cost, the silica-based membrane is, by far, the most suitable means for small-scale nucleic acid purification. It selectively binds DNA or RNA at different hydrophobic

Microglia play an essential role in brain homeostasis, neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain infections. Microglia are integral components of the neuro-glial cell network and are the resident immune cells of the brain. Recent studies indicate that microglia are derived from the yolk sac and can self-renew. Microglia are distributed throughout the central nervous system (CNS) to perform brain immune surveillance. Microglia are also the first to respond to injury or infection in the brain and are important for development of the adult brain.

Under homeostatic conditions, the population of microglia is strictly regulated. As microglia are critical cells for the CNS, they perform a diverse array of functions such as scavenging, phagocytic debris removal, antigen presentation, synaptic organization, extracellular signaling and promoting repair. Upon activation, they act as brain macrophages to clear cellular debris, damaged cells, or microbes when programmed cell death occurs

Hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSEC) are fascinating cells that are uniquely adapted to their location in the liver. HSEC are found lining micro-vessels in the liver and are extremely specialized endothelial cells. Structurally and functionally they have distinctive features which include: open pores known as fenestra which form sieve plates, a lack of an organized basement membrane, expression of scavenger receptors, and performing endocytic activity. Notably, HSEC are highly permeable and play a critical role in removing bloodborne waste. To perform the endocytic function, HSEC express a vast array of scavenger receptors as well as the mannose receptor, which allows them to collect molecules from the bloodstream and transport them to the hepatocytes.  

HSEC also play a pivotal role in the innate immunity by their ability to bind viruses and other pathogens through their endocytic receptors. By way of the portal vein, the liver is continuously being exposed to antigens and microbes

SARS-CoV-2 is the seventh known coronavirus that causes the human disease known as COVID-19. The virus can grow in cells lining the conducting airways and in alveolar epithelial cells. First, the virus generally enters the body through the nose or mouth. From there, the virus travels down into the alveoli which are located in the lungs. Once in the alveoli, the virus “hijacks” cells to make new copies of the virus. The infected cell is then killed, releasing new viruses to infect neighboring cells in the alveolus. Each sac of air, or alveolus, is wrapped with capillaries where red blood cells release carbon dioxide (CO₂) and pick up oxygen (O₂). Two alveolar epithelial cells (type I and II) facilitate gas exchange. Type I cells are squamous alveolar cells with thin membranes that perform gas exchange. Type II cells are known as progenitor cells in the alveoli and proliferate and differentiate into type I cells. In addition, Type II cells secrete the pulmonary surfactant that lines

Epithelial cells are the most numerous cells in the lungs and contribute to innate and adaptive immunity. Airway epithelial cells are located in the lower respiratory tract which includes the trachea, bronchi, small airways (bronchioles), and alveoli. Due to their location, airway epithelial cells are constantly exposed to microbes, particles, and pollutants and are essentially the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Airway epithelium acts as a physical barrier and either directly remove pathogens or interact with immune cells which initiate the clearance of pathogens. Epithelial cells also play an important role in reducing inflammation and maintaining homeostasis in the lungs. During an infection, epithelial cell dysfunction can contribute to the development of inflammation of the airways and lungs. Additionally, patients with chronic pulmonary disease are more susceptible to respiratory infections due to defects in epithelial barrier structure and function.

As of April 10, 2020, the number of U.S. SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus cases surpassed 500,000 with a death toll near 19,000. For over a century, coronaviruses were thought to only cause mild illnesses such as the common cold. With the ou or over a century, coronaviruses were thought to only cause mild illnesses such as the common cold. With the outbreak of the 2002-03 SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) that was caused by SARS-CoV coronavirus, this concept was rapidly overturned, and as a result coronavirus research has geared up for the fast lane.

Coronaviruses are a family of large, single-stranded RNA viruses with size ranging from 26 to 32 kb. Like other viruses, coronaviruses proliferate by invading cells, manipulating the cells into making many copies of the virus, and infecting more cells. As an RNA virus, the coronavirus lacks error-repairing mechanisms during replication, and therefore, has a relatively high mutation rate resulting in rapid evolution.

At the 3′-end of the viral

Migraines and headaches can be extremely debilitating with a diverse set of triggers and symptoms. Although the pathophysiology for headaches is still unclear, evidence suggests that factors such as neurogenic inflammation and meningeal sensory innervation play important roles in the development of migraines. The dura mater, the outermost layer of meninges, is responsible for the pain sensation felt during headaches and migraines. The dura mater is composed of two layers known as the periosteal and meningeal layer and they function as a scaffold to drain blood and cerebrospinal fluid from the brain.

Cells of the dura mater, such as mast cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, and microvascular endothelial cells contribute in varying degrees to headache pathophysiology, but also provide critical normal functions. Dural fibroblasts (DuF), for instance, in the healthy brain produce extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and fibronectin. Dural endothelial cells regulate blood vessel function

Traditional 2D cultures have been used widely over the past decades to study cell biology, molecular biology and conduct translation research such as drug discovery. Cells in 2D culture, however, are forced to adopt a planar morphology and maintain cellular interactions only in lateral directions, altering gene transcription, protein translation, and functional phenotypes. As a result, there is a shift towards using 3D in vitro models in the last several years as cell morphology and physiology more closely represent cells in vivo.

There are 2 main types of 3D culture systems known as scaffold-based and scaffold-free. In Table 1 below, the advantages and disadvantages of the different 3D cell culture techniques are listed to help researchers determine the most appropriate 3D culture method for their research.

Table 1: Advantages and Disadvantages of Different 3D Cell Culture Techniques.

Due to their novelties and complexities, 3D cell culture technologies may be daunting to some researchers.

Hepatic stellate cells have recently gained a great deal of attention regarding their contribution to the progression of diseases such as liver fibrosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and hepatocellular carcinoma. They are mesenchymal cells that are located between sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes in the space of Disse or perisinusoidal space and represent about 5-10% of cells in the liver. Hepatic stellate cells play a critical role in liver homeostasis and perform a diverse set of functions, some of which are poorly understood. In a normal healthy liver, stellate cells are quiescent and store vitamin A droplets.  Additionally, stellate cells are involved in vasoregulation, monitoring extracellular matrix deposition, and the production of factors that stimulate hepatocyte regeneration.

In response to liver damage, stellate cells receive signals from hepatocytes, hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, and immune cells to activate.  Once given the signal to activate,

ScienCell’s wide assortment of cell culture media is in liquid form and includes Specialty, Classical & Supplement varieties. Each product is designed for optimal nutrition and growth of primary cells. ScienCell’s cell culture media is manufactured and tested to ensure a high standard of quality and consistency.

Each specialty medium is paired with cell-specific growth supplements for optimal growth and survival. Complete media kits include basal media, growth supplement, penicillin/streptomycin and fetal bovine serum (if applicable).

qPCR is a powerful tool for quantification of gene expression levels and copy number variation. Despite the advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS), qPCR still serves as the "gold standard" for gene expression analysis. Due to poor reproducibility and vast lab-to-lab variation, all NGS data requires qPCR validation. However, as essential as qPCR is, qPCR loading can be challenging. 

Why is qPCR loading difficult? First, qPCR is typically performed using 96- or 384-well plates. The replicon template, primers and master mix (consisting of polymerase, buffer and dNTPs) must be properly loaded to individual wells. The sample loading step can be challenging because of the large number of wells and it is extremely easy to introduce errors when loading. Second, when quantifying low copy number genes, white qPCR plates are preferred over transparent ones, as several studies have shown that white plates can offer better qPCR sensitivity. The opacity of a plate can affect qPCR sensitivity because

Cell-based assays are widely used in basic and translational research as cost-effective and accessible models to mimic in vivo responses. To obtain reliable data, assessing the health of cultured cells prior to any assays is highly recommended. Furthermore, many cell-based assays require quantification of cell growth. Cell health and growth can be determined by quantifying cell viability, proliferation, or apoptosis.

Below, we compare some commonly used assays to help you determine which type is suitable for your experimental design.

• Cell viability assays enumerate the ratio of live and dead cells in a population. Cell viability can simply be achieved by staining and counting live or dead cells.  A deeper assessment of cell health can be attained by measuring cell metabolic activity, such as the ability to reduce tetrazolium salts in MTT and WST-1 assays.
• Cell proliferation assays assess dividing cells. Some common assays include BrdU incorporation (BrdU Assays) that can directly

When working with primary cells, it is important to remember that they are not cell lines and should be treated with care. At ScienCell, we specialize in primary cell culture and we are very familiar with the common problems researchers encounter when culturing them. We have compiled a list with 13 of the most common problems that researchers encounter when culturing primary cells.

Mistake #1: Being unfamiliar with the primary cell types being cultured.

Correction #1: It is very important to know the morphology of primary cells and to be aware of the morphology of potential contaminating cells.

Mistake #2: Primary cells are 100% pure.

Correction #2: Primary cells are rarely 100% pure so it is essential to pay close attention to cell morphology and to not allow cells to overgrow.

Mistake #3: Thawing a vial of primary cells in a water bath for longer than necessary.

Cancer immunotherapy is one promising cancer treatment option whereby the host's own immune system is used to treat cancer. The therapy works by either stimulating certain immune activities, or counteracting cancer cell signals that suppress immune responses. Cancer immunotherapy has progressed significantly since 2011, when the first immune checkpoint inhibitor was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To date, the FDA has approved 6 immune checkpoint inhibitors with more on the way for the treatment of various cancer types including melanoma, lung cancer and lymphoma. Furthermore, in 2017, the FDA approved 2 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Cancer immunotherapy Origins

The first recorded attempt at cancer immunotherapy can be traced back to more than a century ago. In 1891, William Bradley Coley (1862-1936), a 29-year-old bone surgeon at New York Cancer

For decades, Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) has been a vital supplement for the successful culture of a diverse range of cell types. FBS is an undefined, complex source of growth factors, hormones, lipids, attachment factors, and trace elements. In addition, it neutralizes harmful substances in the culture media. Despite its utility, many scientists are trying to reduce or replace animal serum in culture media due to ethical concerns, rising costs, batch variability, and concerns over infectious agents. To this end, public and commercial efforts have focused on developing serum replacement products, some of which may be successful for cell lines. For cells with more complex nutritional requirements, such as primary cells, these products cannot yet support cell growth and viability as well as FBS. Attempts to replace serum in primary cell culture continue today.

While researchers typically use classical or nutrient media supplemented

Aging and Telomere Length Quantification by qPCR

Aging is a time-dependent decline of the body’s functional capabilities and is an inevitable course of life (as shown in the image below, extracted from the Wall Street Journal). The rate of aging though is highly variable among individuals. When evaluating health status, the virtual (biological) age and actual (chronological) age are both important. For this reason, scientists have long searched for reliable biomarkers of aging to determine biological age.  Currently, there is no well-accepted aging biomarker that has been identified.

Among several potential aging biomarkers, telomere length has attracted the most attention. Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide elements at the ends of chromosomes and protect chromosomes from degradation and genetic information loss.  In vertebrates, telomeres are GGATTT nucleotide repeats that can reach a few kilobases in length on each chromosomal end. Notably, cells lose part of telomeres with each

Primary cells, which are isolated directly from tissue, show normal cell morphology and maintain many of the important markers and functions seen in vivo. Primary cells, though, have a finite lifespan and limited expansion capacity, so it is critical to use low passage primary cells for your research.

Remember that primary cells are never 100% pure, so if cells at higher passage are used there is greater risk of having contaminating cells outgrow the cells of interest. With each passage,  phenotypic and genotypic changes occur as the cells diverge from the original isolated cell population. Additionally, these genetic changes can lead to epigenetic changes. We, therefore, strongly encourage you to use primary cells as early as possible for experiments to prevent genetic drift. Although some primary cell types, such as fibroblasts, can be extremely proliferative and can be passaged

Neuronal cell lines are commonly used for in vitro neurobiology studies because they are more easily transfected compared to primary neurons and they proliferate, whereas primary neurons do not. Neuronal cell lines can be induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells, where they express neuronal markers and elaborate processes resembling axons and dendrites. While using these cells may be cost-effective, the results may not be representative of primary neurons.

As with other cell lines, neuronal cell lines are not equivalent to primary cells. By the time the cells are used in experiments, they have likely undergone numerous replications, which can result in mutations and genetic drift. Immortalized cells or those derived from tumors differ biologically from normal, differentiated neurons derived from the nervous system. Indeed, numerous studies have found large differences between neuronal lines and primary neurons. For example, a study found that PC12 cells, a neuronal line derived from

The 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Jeffrey C Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W Young for research that established key mechanistic principles on how circadian rhythms are regulated. Circadian rhythms are endogenous oscillations adjusted to changing external cues and driven by circadian clocks.

All multicellular organisms and almost all tissues in the body regulate circadian rhythms using a similar mechanism as the one elucidated by the 3 Nobel Laureates. Indeed, a majority of the genes expressed in our bodies are regulated by our circadian clock, consequently requiring careful calibration of our physiology with our environment. For example, the cell cycle is regulated by the circadian clock, and disruptions in circadian rhythms can be associated with the sort of aberrant cell cycling associated with tumorigenesis such as breast cancer.  Circadian biology as it pertains to overall health, disease, and disease susceptibility has grown into a vast research

Next generation sequencing (NGS), such as Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq), provides a high throughput approach for DNA sequencing and gene expression analysis. It is rapidly advancing our knowledge on almost all aspects of genetic research and shedding light on how individual or groups of genes may regulate biological processes. Powerful as NGS is, however, many high impact journals require that NGS data include qPCR validation.

So why is qPCR validation still such an important step? There are 3 main reasons.

First, compared to qPCR, NGS is considerably more complicated and consequently the potential for errors is increased. Reproducibility can also be a problem due to the complexity of NGS experiments.

Second, there can be intrinsic biases in NGS. For one, due to the random sampling nature of NGS, the sensitivity is largely based on the "sequencing depth", or how many times the template gets read. If the transcripts are expressed at low levels, it may not reach

Cell culturing is a widely used technique to grow cells outside of their natural environment using artificial environments and controlled conditions that has become indispensable to scientific research.  The applications of cell culturing are innumerable and there are many ways to differentiate types of cell culturing.  For instance, there are cells isolated from normal or disease models, primary or immortalized, adherent or suspension, 2D or 3D.  This blog post will focus on 2D cell culturing versus 3D cell culturing to ostend ScienCell’s new line of 3D culturing kits that model endothelial tube formation.

Traditional 2D culturing generally involves growing adherent cells on a flat plastic surface such as in a T-75 flask or a tissue culturing dish.  Depending on the cell type, sometimes the plastic surface is coated with an extracellular matrix component or biological compound to promote cell attachment such as fibronectin or poly-L-lysine.  In the case of normal primary cells,

3 Reasons Why You Should Take "Pseudogenes" Seriously in Your Research

Protein-coding DNA, or “functional” genes, only accounts for up to 2% in the human genome. Until recently, the remaining 98% have been referred to as “junk DNA” for their putative noncoding feature. The name itself implies that junk DNA is useless and can be ignored. Further research, however, has shown that junk DNA may actually be crucial in the functionality of our genome. For instance, have you ever wondered why human astrocytes and hepatocytes originated from the same fertilized egg, and carry exactly the same genetic information, yet they differ greatly in their development, morphology and functions? While part of the reason lies in epigenetics, where gene expression is regulated by epigenetic modification such as DNA methylation, some researchers have also been searching for clues in the so-called junk DNA. As a result, "pseudogenes" were identified, and their diverse roles in maintaining normal cell biology were

Cancer is a collection of over 200 diseases where the only common denominator is rogue cells^1,2.  The ways in which a cell can go rogue is so varied that cancer has its own separate biology where order and normalcy are not readily apparent.  Cancer does not even have to be solid.  Indeed, blood cancers like leukemia and lymphomas account for about 10% of new cancer diagnoses in the US³.  Our understanding of cancer is continually being refined, and in preparation for our visit to the 2017 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference, this blog post will give a brief overview of human history with cancer, highlight some accomplishments in cancer research, and discuss two future directions for cancer therapy research.

Fossilized bones and mummies of ancient Egypt provide some of the earliest evidence of cancer, and the first recorded description of cancer dates back to circa 3000 BC characterizing breast tumors as a disease for which “there is no treatment⁵.”

Hello fellow cell enthusiasts! We at team ScienCell just got back from Baltimore, MD, where we attended ToxExpo 2017, the Society of Toxicology’s annual conference. While the cold weather was quite a shock to us Californians, it was such a treat getting to experience what Baltimore had to offer. After finishing the initial set up down at the convention center, we set off to explore the city, where we had the chance to admire the scenic view of Baltimore’s beautiful harbor.

Of course, we couldn’t resist sampling the local cuisine. Everything we had was fabulous, from the $10 gyros offered right next to our booth to the seafood served at the restaurants across the harbor. Bubba Gump’s is famous for their shrimp, and this plate was as delicious as it looks:

We also couldn’t miss out on popping over to the aquarium to see some really cool jellyfish…

…and we even had snow during our visit!

This was our first time attending the SOT conference, and we were excited to to spend three days interfacing

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- ScienCell Research Laboratories, Inc. is a unique supplier of primary Human Schwann Cells to the scientific research community. Schwann cells are glial cells that protect and insulate nerves in the peripheral nervous system.

"There are numerous cell types, such as Schwann cells, which were not commercially available to scientists conducting research. Our goal is to "help the scientists of today to discover the science of tomorrow" said James Shen, CEO, ScienCell Research Laboratories, Inc. "The scientists using our primary cells are dedicated to researching and developing potential therapies to significantly improve the quality of life for patients with various diseases."

Schwann Cells Research

The Schwann cell is the principal accessory cell in the peripheral nervous system and has been involved in many important aspects of nerve biology. It interacts with nerve axons to generate myelin. There are many biological and functional questions about Schwann cells which

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- ScienCell Research Laboratories, Inc. recently announced it would be expanding its cell culture products to the gene expression profiling market. ScienCell, who prides itself on supplying unique primary cell types for nearly 20 years, will now supply qPCR array kits and individual primers to study gene expression profiles. "We are glad to offer validated qPCR gene expression analysis products so that researchers can spend their time on more important aspects of their studies," said mastermind behind GeneQuery™ (https://sciencellonline.com/en/products-services/genetics-genomics/), Yongjiang Daniel Li, Ph.D. "Our team is dedicated to designing unique and quality qPCR array kits that are focused on primary cell development and functions, cancer research, hereditary diseases, and biomarker discovery."

Primary cells are increasingly used by researchers as an in vitro model of in vivo biological processes. As the leading primary cell provider, ScienCell now enables

Online webinar hosted by sciencell to learn tips for successful qPCR, a technique for gene expression profiling

CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, USA, -- Sciencell Research Laboratories, Inc. , a global provider of primary cells, cell culture media and reagents for life science industry, announced today that it will host a live, complimentary webinar titled, “Technical Tips for Successful qPCR : WEBINAR SERIES”, on Tuesday, January 24, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Pacific Time. The webinar will offer expert overview on successful qPCR from Dr. Yongjiang Daniel Li, Research Scientist, Research and Development, Sciencell Research Laboratories, Inc., with assistance from Dr. Jennifer Welser, Scientific Affairs, Sciencell Research Laboratories, Inc.
“qPCR array provides a quick, accurate and sensitive approach for gene expression profiling. Though powerful and widely-used, attaining reliable results from qPCR can be difficult.” explains Daniel. “In this webinar we will discuss unique tips for primer design,

Cell-based assays are widely used in basic and translational research as cost-effective and accessible models to mimic in vivo responses. To obtain reliable data, assessing the health of cultured cells prior to any assays is essential. Furthermore, many cell-based assays require quantification of cell growth. Cell health and growth can be determined by quantifying cell viability, proliferation, or apoptosis. Below, we compare some commonly used assays to help you determine which type is suitable for your experimental design.

• Cell viability assays enumerate the ratio of live and dead cells in a population. Cell viability can simply be achieved by staining and counting live or dead cells.  A deeper assessment of cell health can be attained by measuring cell metabolic activity, such as the ability to reduce tetrazolium salts in MTT and WST-1 assays.
• Cell proliferation assays assess dividing cells. Some common assays include BrdU incorporation (BrdU Assays) that can directly measure DNA synthesis,

ScienCell's Rat Hippocampal Neurons Used in Recent Neurological Disease Therapy Research Published in Scientific Reports Journal

Neurons are dynamically polarized cells responsible for electrochemically transmitting information throughout the nervous system. Scientists have characterized hundreds of neuron types based on location, morphology and gene expression. In general, there are three main types of neurons: motor neurons, sensory neurons, and interneurons. Despite great variability in size and shape, most neurons share common morphological features including a cell body, dendrites, the axon, and the axon terminals.

Researchers at Nanjing University, Jiangsu University and Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine used ScienCell's Rat Hippocampal Neurons in their research on neuroprotection by polynitrogen manganese complexes: regulation of ROS-related pathways. Through this study, they found that due to ROS either inducing cellular oxidative stress or

ScienCell's Mouse Microglia Used in Recent Microglial Activation Research Published in Molecular & Cellular Proteomics Journal

Microglia are a type of macrophage-like glial cell in the central nervous system (CNS) and they function as the brain's primary immune defenders. Upon activation, microglia may act as scavengers, remove tissue debris, and clear damaged cells during CNS development or injury. There is also evidence that microglia are involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes in the brain through interactions with neurons, other glial cells, and the production of biologically active substances such as growth factors and cytokines.

Researchers at the University of South Florida (Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology) used ScienCell's mouse microglia in their research on the molecular mechanisms behind classical and alternative microglial activation. Through this study, they found a group of proteins differentially

When it comes to primary cell culture, a picture is worth a thousand words. A quality image can convey information on cell morphology, health, culture purity and density. Different types of 2-dimensional microscopy techniques such as phase contrast, relief contrast, and fluorescence microcopy can provide invaluable insight into your cultures when used concurrently.

Phase contrast microscopy enhances contrast by translating cell thickness into levels of grayscale. Thicker regions of the cell, such as the nucleus, will appear darker compared to thinner regions of the cell, such as the cytoplasm. This technique is useful for assessing cell morphology and thus the purity of the culture. It can also indicate the health of the cells, as a darkened cytoplasm is sometimes an indication of damaged or dying cells. Figure 1 demonstrates how human endothelial cell, keratinocyte and fibroblast morphology differs using phase contrast microscopy.

Relief contrast microscopy (also known as Hoffman modulation

In this final installment on how to improve your qPCR gene expression profiling (see 6 Tips to Improve qPCR: part 1 and part 2 for previous discussion), we will discuss pipetting tips and the benefits of a separate reverse transcription step in qPCR template preparation.

Tip #5. Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) with pipetting helps to improve qPCR accuracy.

qPCR is a highly sensitive means for gene expression analysis because it amplifies its template exponentially, however, any deviations in each reaction are also amplified. A major source of such deviations is pipetting error. What can you do to prevent these deviations?

A good place to start would be by using a master mix, or a mixture of common reaction reagents such as DNA template, polymerase, qPCR dye and primers, instead of adding each reaction component individually. Using a master mix can significantly lower the frequency of pipetting and reduce pipetting error. To  account for well-to-well variation using an internal control,

After watching displays of astounding athletic prowess in the 2016 Olympics, I was inspired to take a closer look at the science behind exercise training, recovery, and injury with a focus on the importance of blood vessels during exercise.

Let’s start with some basic training: Why are blood vessels important for exercise?

Muscles need oxygen and nutrients to breakdown fats and carbohydrates for energy and the main delivery system to provide these is blood vessels.  Under normal conditions, a delicate balance is kept between quiescence and remodeling in blood vasculature to maintain a baseline level of muscle activity, but that balance is upset with physical stress such as exercising due to an increased demand for energy and the components required to make that energy.  The “angiogenic switch” is a popular term for the point at which blood vessels change from a quiescent state to an active remodeling state, such as in tumorigenesis [1].  Chemical regulation of angiogenesis is well-researched

CD-1 IGS mice are outbred mice derived from a group of outbred Swiss mice developed at the Anti-Cancer Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. They were imported to the US in 1926 and to Charles River in 1959.  The CD-1 IGS mice are generally used for genetics, toxicology, pharmacology, and aging research. C57BL/6 mice are inbred mice developed by C.C. Little in 1921 at The Bussey Institute for Research in Applied Biology.

The C57BL/6 mice are used for transgenic and knockout model development (the wild-type C57BL/6 mice are a good control), as well as, obesity and immunological studies. There are advantages to using either outbred or inbred mouse strains depending on your research. Outbred mice have more genetic diversity, are more robust, and produce larger litter sizes than inbred mice. Inbred mice are almost genetically identical, which allows for easier interpretation of experiments.

It is important to keep these factors in mind when selecting either CD-1 IGS or C57/BL6 mouse primary cells

Cell culture studies provide a valuable complement to in vivo experiments, allowing for a more controlled manipulation of cellular functions and processes. For decades, cell lines have played a critical role in scientific advancements, yet researchers have become increasingly cautious when interpreting data generated from cell lines only. Factors such as misidentified and contaminated cell lines have spurred renewed interest in primary cells [1,2]. Many researchers have chosen to work with cells lines as they are generally highly proliferative, and easier to culture and transfect.  Most cell lines have been in culture for decades and are well adapted to the two-dimensional culture environment, and as a result, often differ genetically and phenotypically from their tissue origin and show altered morphology [3,4]. In contrast to cell lines, primary cell which are isolated directly from tissues, have a finite lifespan and limited expansion capacity. On the positive side, primary cells have

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects almost 44 million people worldwide. The disease typically begins with memory difficulties followed by trouble thinking, reasoning and processing emotions. The cause of AD is not well understood, but there appear to be two forms: 90% of patients have a late-onset sporadic form of AD with no known genetic link, while the remaining AD cases fall into a genetically inheritable form of early-onset Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (FAD). Unfortunately, the irreversible disease progression is eventually fatal due to widespread neuronal loss in the central nervous system.

In addition to the loss of neurons, pathological features of Alzheimer’s brains include amyloid beta plaques (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Aβ forms when amyloid precursor protein (APP) is cleaved by beta and gamma secretase. Individual Aβ molecules then interact to form extracellular deposits in the brain. Whether Aβ is an underlying cause or merely correlated with the disease remains unclear,

Dye-based qPCR assays, such as SYBR® Green and EvaGreen®, have many advantages over probe-based qPCR assays. Dye-based systems are desirable because they are highly adaptable, cost effective, and time efficient. qPCR specificity, however, is a vital factor to consider when using dye-based qPCR assays. The dyes can bind to any double strand DNA, regardless of whether it is the desired qPCR product, a non-specific amplification, or a primer dimer.

Low specificity is mainly caused by non-specific binding of primers, which includes binding to similar sequences in the DNA template at random locations, binding between primers, and primer self-binding. In addition to careful primer design to exclude undesired primer complimentarity, there are many other ways to improve qPCR specificity. The most effective way to improve specificity is to design primers about 23-26 nucleotides long, with a high annealing temperature (Tm) around 65°C. This is especially important when using genomic DNA or cDNA

For decades, researchers have been culturing cells to study normal and diseased biological processes. Many of these studies use immortalized cell lines which proliferate indefinitely in culture. Immortalized cells thrive in classical media formulated with the minimum requirements for cell growth, including salts, vitamins, amino acids and an energy source. Though useful for some studies, many scientists question how closely immortalized cells resemble primary cells isolated from living tissue. As a result, scientists are shifting to utilizing primary cells for their research as primary cells are more representative of in vivo conditions.

Primary cells are cultured directly from tissue, express protein markers specific to their cell type, and have a limited ability to proliferate. For many primary cells, classical media is not sufficient to support their growth in vitro and consequently require specialized media. Specialty media contains similar classical media elements, but with additional

For over a decade, ScienCell Research Laboratories has been a leading provider of human and animal primary cells, cell-derived DNA, RNA and protein, as well as other biological materials. For our business practices, we strictly comply with the following policies:

• We are committed to operating under the highest ethical and legal standards in the acquisition of human and animal tissues used for the preparation of primary cells and other biological materials.
• We warrant that human tissues have been obtained in compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
• We strictly adhere to the guidelines for human tissue collection and distribution according to established protocols.
• Human tissue used for the isolation of primary cells is derived from donors who have signed informed consent by the donor themselves or an authorized agent acting on the donor’s behalf.
• We protect the privacy and autonomy of all donors.
• We believe that human actions have social, economic, and environmental