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- October 07, 2022
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
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- May 01, 2020
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
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- April 04, 2020
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.
Human Bronchial -
- February 10, 2020
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
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- July 23, 2019
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.
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- June 10, 2019
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,
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- February 12, 2019
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).
Specialty Media
ScienCell specialty media are formulated to meet the complex nutritional requirements of primary cells under low serum or serum-free conditions. 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).
Classical Media
ScienCell Research Laboratories provides high quality
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- August 29, 2018
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
- May 31, 2018When 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.
Correction
- April 04, 2018Cancer 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
- October 24, 2017Neuronal 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
- March 27, 2017Cancer is a collection of over 200 diseases where the only common denominator is rogue cells1,2. 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.”
- March 24, 2017Hello 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!
- February 15, 2017Online 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,- February 15, 2017SAN 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 researchers
- February 15, 2017CARLSBAD, 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
- July 06, 2015For 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