I have a U937 monocyte cell line at passage 23 in culture, but it is growing very slowly, and the overall culture appears weak with few cells. I have been culturing them in 20% fetal bovine serum for a week in a T75 flask with RPMI medium.
What else could I do to improve this culture?
These cells came from a laboratory that recently underwent renovation, and other cell lines from this lab are also showing similar behavior since the renovation. Could this be the cause?
I would greatly appreciate any assistance or suggestions.
Hello Athamy Cruz
Yes, the renovation work could be the cause.
The renovation work carried out can create significant dust-led hazards. Whenever renovation is carried out in the laboratory, especially in tissue culture laboratory, all cell culture activities should be halted. The cells in culture should be frozen, and the equipment in the laboratory should be covered to avoid airborne dust and other particulates. If possible, the equipment may be shifted to another clean area till the renovation work is completed.
Since these cells have undergone stress, you may culture U937 monocyte cells in culture vessel of smaller surface area such as 6-well plate or 35mm petri dish so that the cells come closer to one another. The cells are happy when they are together, and revival will be much faster in smaller culture vessels, rather than growing them in T-75cm^2 flask where the cells being few are far apart from each other and there is lack of communication between them.
Do not use 20% FBS in growth media. Although FBS plays a vital role in cell cultures, there are certain small molecules present in FBS that are unidentified, and their effects on cultured cells could be negative. You never know! So, use the normal concentration (10% FBS) to culture U937 cells.
Hope this is helpful!
Best.
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