As a control i thought to use A549 Cell line. which is an alveolar epithelial cell line.Is that possible to use another cell line like mcf or normal lung epithelium as control group? why ?
Hello Aleena Varughese
The A549 cell line though it is a pulmonary epithelial cell line derived from a human alveolar cell carcinoma, it is a genetically mutated human non-small cell lung cancer cell line. Although A549 cells exhibit some characteristics of Type II Alveolar Epithelial Cells (AEC2), their structural and barrier properties, as well as cell phenotypes, significantly differ from those of AEC2s, and they do not express pulmonary surfactant proteins that regulate surfactant function, structure, metabolism, and innate host defense under any culture condition. AEC2s are the prime stem cells in alveolar region during hemostasis and lung injury, their dysfunction is considered to play a leading role in the pathogenesis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Therefore, A549 cell line would not be an appropriate control for pulmonary fibrosis. A proper control is supposed to be the one that is the least variable, and A549 does not seem to fulfil this criterion. So, you should use a normal lung epithelium cell line as it would serve as a proper control. A control group is used as a benchmark or a point of comparison against which other test results are measured. A control group is critical as it helps ensure the internal validity of the study.
Best.
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