I have been using U87 cells for over a year. I study effects of anti-cancer drugs on several cell line including U87. Over the past few months, the cultures are 100% confluent on the second day even though the seeding density is less 30-40%. This usually took 4-5 days in the past but now its out of control. Just curious if there are others who observed this issue. Also, my prior data is consistent with the results that others published suggesting that their growth rate was normal before. Recently I have observed greater toxicity by these compounds just in U87 cells due to higher replication rate.
Does anyone have any clue why they are acting this way?
or if they will return back to their original growth rate?
The abnormal proliferation of U87 glioblastoma cells is due to the presence of a mutated version of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene
Hello Taufeeque Ali
Long-term subculturing places selective pressure on cell line traits leading to, for example, faster growing cells that eventually overrun slower proliferators in the population.
In addition, cell lines maintained in culture over a long period of time may experience mutations that alter the original functional characteristics of the cell lines identified at earlier passage levels.
These recent U87 glioblastoma cells in culture may have undergone such a change.
You may want to refer to the article I have attached below for more information.
Article The costs of using unauthenticated, over-passaged cell lines...
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