I have started to work with human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). I just wanted to know the effect of serum supplemented media (HMEC media) on the viability and proliferation of HMEC.
The media I got has been supplemented with recommended growth kit plus 10% FBS. What could be the effect of FBS on the growth of HMECs?
Hello Nabiha Bashir
FBS contains growth factors, carrier proteins, binding and transfer proteins, electrolytes, lipids, carbohydrates, hormones, enzymes, and other undefined constituents, which are important and help in cell growth. It also contains cell attachment-promoting proteins like fibronectin and vitronectin which help cells to attach to the substratum.
FBS must be heat-inactivated at 56°C for 30 minutes in a water bath with occasional shaking before use. The purpose is to inactivate the complement which are a group of proteins present in serum that are part of the immune response, and other potential unknown inhibitors of cell growth. Depending upon the requirement, FBS concentration varies in culture medium. It can go up to 20% in the culture medium.
I hope this information is helpful.
Best Wishes.
Great it is useful for general scenerio like i am growing MCF7 and fibroblasts in FBS enriched media.
But i read that we cant use FBS for mammary epithilial cells, And as i have said in my question that i have FBS enriched media so my question was.. what will be the effect of FBS on mammary cells growth if i add serum supplemented media ( which in general case is not added for mammary cells).
Hope my question is clear now.
Hello Nabiha
Yes, there was a misunderstanding. For culturing HMEC, FBS is not used because the growth factors and hormones present in FBS which I just mentioned above can have a negative effect on the properties of HMEC. In HMEC, there are certain aspects that are under hormonal control. For instance, basement membrane components, cellular interactions with the basement membrane, production of growth factors, activators and such other cellular mechanisms.
So you cannot add serum supplemented medium in the case of HMECs.
For more details on how HMECs are cultured you can refer to the research article which I have attached below.
Cancer research 53, 2644-2654, June 1,1993.
I hope I have answered your question.
Best Wishes.
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