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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

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

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.  

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.”

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

American Heart Month Sponsor: The American Heart Association (http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/)

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.

The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for people to make healthier choices.

Make a difference in your community: Spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and encourage people to live heart healthy lives.

How can American Heart Month make a difference?

We can use this month to raise awareness about heart disease and how people can prevent it — both at home and in the community.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Encourage families to make small changes, like using spices to season their food instead of salt.

• Motivate teachers and administrators to make physical activity

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,