Hello Claire Gates

HCT-8 colon cancer cells are human adenocarcinoma cells from the ileocecal region which may give a reflection of gut absorption. The cells produce a polarized differentiated monolayer consisting of enterocyte-like columnar cells that are interconnected by mature tight junctions and desmosomes and exposed microvilla.

For normal cell culturing you could use 10% FBS. But if you need to switch HCT-8 cells to differentiation state, you may accomplish this by supplementing the medium with horse serum instead of FBS. You could either use 10% horse serum or 5% horse serum along with 5%FBS which will help to slow down cell proliferation considerably.

When you maintain cells in culture, FBS is generally used because FBS contains factors for proliferation that will help cells to proliferate. Whenever cells have to be switched to differentiated state, they have to be withdrawn from the proliferative state.

Best.