I was wondering why some cells in culture should be grown in the presence of Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium (ITS).
I understand why insulin may be important for the growth of some cells but why may transferrin and especially selenious acid be important?
Insulin promotes glucose and amino acid uptake, lipogenesis, intracellular transport, and the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids. Transferrin is an iron carrier and it may also help to reduce toxic levels of oxygen radicals and peroxide. Selenite is a co-factor for glutathione peroxidase and other proteins, and is used as an anti-oxidant in media. Typically used to reduce the conc. of FBS to 2-4%, but this might not be doable for all cell types.
Thank you!
However, those cell lines, for which we add ITS to the culture medium, grow in 20% FBS (instead of 10% that we use for all the other cell lines)...
It just a source of Insulin and trace element to facilitate cell growth and survival.
In our experience we usually use media with trace elements to enhance cell yeld during proliferation step after freezing. And switch to trace elements free media a couple doublings before biological experiments with exposure to different factors to return cell population to "normal" physiological state.
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