Hello. Currently I am using the murine microglial cell line BV2 for phagocytosis experiments. I am wondering how key is the fact of treating the cells with serum-free medium. In what way affects the cells having serum or not (for phagocytosis)? Thank you
Hello Lluís Camprubí-Ferrer
Treating the cells with serum-free medium, may cause the processes present on BV‑2 cells to become shorter and the cell bodies become larger and more rounded in shape which is indicative of activation. More transparent vesicles are observed within the cell bodies, which would be indicative of their increased phagocytic ability.
Though serum deprivation would cause activation of microglia over a short period of time, longer periods without an adequate nutrient supply would result in an adverse effect as microglia may eventually die.
For more information you may refer to the article attached below.
Article Serum-deprivation leads to activation-like changes in primar...
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