Technical Library

Recent Entries in Technical Library

• Why are PromoCell products “for in vitro research use only”?

  The basis for the intended use of our products is defined in our Terms & Conditions under the chapter “Use of Goods”.

   

• How long do I need to activate my macrophages? Can I stop adding activation factors after 24 hours?

  The activation of macrophages as such is complete after 24 hrs. However, to maintain the activation status over a longer period of time (i.e., several days), fresh activation factors should be added with every medium change.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note: Assay-ready adherent cultures of fully functional human primary macrophages
  • Macrophage Cell Culture
• Once thawed and opened, does Aquaguard-1 need to be refrigerated or can it stay at room temperature? Can I pre-dilute it in water and leave it at room temperature?
  1. We recommend storing Aquaguard-1 at 4°C after thawing. At this temperature it is stable for up to one month. For long-term storage, we recommend a storage temperature of -20°C. Aquaguard-1 can be frozen and thawed up to 5 times without any problems.
     It is also stable for some time at room temperature, but we do not have sufficient data to guarantee a specific time period and therefore do not recommend this.
  2. As mentioned above, we cannot guarantee exactly how long Aquaguard-1 will be stable at room temperature, and therefore do not recommend it. Also, it would be important to store it in the dark, as constant sunlight/UV light will affect its stability.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Aquaguard-1 (incubator)
• Can the matrix in the Angiogenesis Assay Kit (PK-CA577-K905) be left at RT?

  The matrix should always be kept on ice and multiple freeze/thaw should be avoided.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Angiogenesis Assay Kit
• Can the Cytokine Mix E for the Hematopoietic Progenitor Expansion Medium XF (C-39891; 5 ml) be safely aliquoted?

  Yes, it is possible to aliquot the 5 ml Cytokine Mix E (C-39891) into 5 x 1 ml.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Cytokine Mix E
• What is the difference between PromoCell NHEK and NHEK GM3?

  The NHEK (primary human keratinocytes) are isolated in our serum-free Keratinocyte Growth Medium 2 (C-20011), the NHEK GM3 in our improved serum-free and BPE-free Keratinocyte Growth Medium 3 (C-20021). Both, NHEK and NHEK GM3 are available from single or from pooled donors isolated from the epidermis of juvenile foreskin or adult skin.

  Related Links and Documents

  • NHEK
  • NHEK GM3
• Will my NHEK (isolated in PromoCell Keratinocyte Growth Medium 2) grow in PromoCell Keratinocyte Growth Medium 3?

  Yes, the NHEK-GM2 (C-12001, C-12003, C-12005, C-12006) also grow in PromoCell Keratinocyte Growth Medium 3 (C-20021). Using the protocol with the fixed intervals, they grow slightly faster than in Keratinocyte GM2 and proliferate for > 15 PDs.
  Conversely, NHEK-GM3 (C-12011, C-12013, C-12015, C-12016) also grow in the existing Keratinocyte Growth Medium 2 (C-20011). When using the classical subcultivation protocol (density > 70% – 90%), they grow slightly slower compared to Keratinocyte GM3, but also reach > 15 PDs.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Keratinocyte Cell Culture
• Will the NHEM.f (C-12400) and NHEM.f M2 (C-12402) also grow in PromoCell Melanocyte Growth Medium M3?

  Yes, NHEM.f and NHEM.f M2 also grow in our optimized Melanocyte Growth Medium M3 (C24310) and can achieve > 15 population doublings.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Melanocyte Cell Culture
• I have a question regarding your Alanine Aminotransferase Activity Kit (PK-CA577-K752). What is the activity of the ALT Positive Control?

  The activity of the positive control is not determined. However, we can give you the OD value for the positive control from a specific lot. Please feel free to contact and share with us the lot number if you would like to see the expected OD value.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT/SGPT) Activity Assay Kit
• Which human AB serum does PromoCell recommend to generate M0 macrophages?

  We recommend to use Human Serum AB „off-the-clot”.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Macrophage Base Medium DXF
  • Application Note: Convenient large-scale differentiation
• I would like to differentiate hMSC into bone cells and further maintain the cells in culture after differentiation. Which medium should I use?

  Osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs with PromoCell MSC Osteogenic Differentiation Medium takes ∼12-14 days (please view the respective Application Note for a detailed protocol). Use fibronectin-coated plates and change the medium every third day.

  The bone cells tend to detach from the plastic after approximately 2 weeks, when differentiation is complete. Therefore, the tests should be performed promptly and the cells should be maintained in MSC Osteogenic Differentiation Medium until then.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note: Osteogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
  • human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation Medium
• I am performing MSC chondrogenic, adipogenic, and osteogenic differentiation and am staining the cells. The protocol says to use Saccomanno Fixation Solution. Is there an alternative method to fix the cells because I don’t have Saccomanno Fixation Solution?

  Yes, you can use 4.5% neutral buffered formalin. Paraformaldehyde should work as well.

   

  Related Links and Documents

  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture
• Is PromoCell’s Cryo-SFM produced under GMP standard?

  No, our Freezing Medium Cryo-SFM (C-29910) is not produced under GMP Standard. It is for in vitro research use only and not appoved for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Freezing Medium Cryo-SFM
• Is it possible to differentiate M1 macrophages from PBMC in 96-well plates?

  At PromoCell, we have not tested macrophage differentiation from PBMC in 96-well plates, but we know from users that it is possible.

  According to a customer the mononuclear cells differentiate very well in the 96-well format. A plating density of 1 million PBMCs (without prior determination of monocyte content) per well has been shown to be optimal. The working volume in a 96-well plate is usually 100 µl.

  Related Links and Documents

  • M1-Macrophage Generation Medium DXF
• Can the medium for M2 macrophages be switched into RPMI or RPMI + M-CSF after differentiation?

  Unfortunately, we did not test this in our hands, and it must be tested by the customer. In fact, our medium is completely different from RPMI and therefore we cannot predict if this is working. We only know the successful long-term culture from our system with our media.

  Related Links and Documents

  • M2-Macrophage Generation Medium DXF
• Why does the macrophage differentiation in the PromoCell protocol take 10 days? In the literature or following the feedback from other researchers, it usually only takes 7 days.

  M1 / M2 polarization also takes seven days in the PromoCell system but the protocol contains two more days for optional macrophage activation. If you only want non-activated M1 / M2 macrophages, the process is usually completed after 7 days.
  Nevertheless, PromoCell does not recommend shortening the 10-day protocol because you actually get a plus in viability and cell yield (due to the re-attachment of floating cells) on day 8-10 due to the media change.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note: Differentiation of M1- or M2-Macrophages
  • M1-Macrophage Generation Medium DXF
  • M2-Macrophage Generation Medium DXF
• I differentiated M1 macrophages from self-sourced PBMCs following your differentiating protocol. In the final cell culture, I can see small cells attached to the macrophages which are CD3+ (T-cells). What is the reason for the T-cell contamination after the differentiation?

  The reason for the higher number of lymphocytes in the macrophage culture is probably due to an insufficient washing step during the purification of the monocyte via adherence. The 3 washing steps in our protocol are essential to receive a monocyte population of over 90%.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note
  • M1-Macrophage Generation Medium DXF
• How long do I have to activate the cryopreserved macrophages to measure cytokine release?

  In general, we recommend activating the cells for 24 hours or at least over night for all kind of activations. If the activation is not optimal in your experimental setting, you can increase or decrease the activation time accordingly.

   

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note
  • Macrophage Cell Culture
• I would like to analyze the macrophages by microscope and I would therefore have to plate the cells on fibronectin-coated glass. Did you test if the macrophages grow on fibronectin-coated glass?

  We did not test if the macrophages attach on fibronectin-coated glass.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Macrophage Cell Culture
• Following the recommended seeding density for your M1 macrophages (100,000 cells per cm2), I would need too many cells to have a complete 96- or 384-well plate. This is too expensive for me, can I reduce the number of cells per cm2?

  The recommended seeding density with 100,000 cells per cm² is needed for a confluent cell layer as the cells do not proliferate.
  However, you can reduce the seeding density by the factor 3 to 5 and the macrophages are still viable.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Macrophage Cell Culture
• Do you recommend a certain negative control for the activated macrophages to compare the cytokine release with?

  Even non-activated macrophages do release a certain amount of cytokines. Furthermore, you would have to be sure that the release of a certain cytokine is a direct consequence of the activation. Therefore, we do not think it is possible to have a general negative control for the cytokine release.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Macrophage Cell Culture
• Does PromoCell have any data regarding the cytokine profile and different markers of the M1/M2 macrophages after activation?

  No, we do not provide data about the cytokine profile of our M1/M2 macrophages after activation and we do not provide any further data beyond the scope of our quality control.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Macrophage Cell Culture
• Which cytokine concentrations does PromoCell recommend for activating M1/M2 macrophages?

  You may find all information regarding the activation and the cytokine concentrations in table 1 (page 5) of our Application Note.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note
  • Macrophage Cell Culture
• Did PromoCell try plating the cryo-macrophages in 96-well plates?

  We did not plate the cryo-macrophages in 96-well plates. However, we heard from other customers that they have successfully used our macrophages in this kind of plate.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Macrophage Cell Culture
• I received 3 DetachKits yesterday. Some of the tubes have different colors, although they all come from the same batch.

  The components of the PromoCell DetachKit may occasionally arrive with a non-uniform color appearance. This phenomenon is known to PromoCell’s Quality Assurance Dept.
  It is reversible and has no influence on the quality of the product.

  Related Links and Documents

  • PromoCello DetachKit
• Are endothelial cells α-SMA-negative under all circumstances?

  Scientific findings from different groups, as well as our own results indicate that the presence or absence of α-SMA is not a valid indicator for the composition of a given cell population. Research findings and our inhouse data suggest that endothelial cells are not α-SMA-negative under all circumstances. α-SMA negativity is not an intrinsic property of endothelial cells but can vary depending on extrinsic influences.

  Lot-specific values for α-SMA in our Certificates of Analysis (CoAs) are therefore not considered meaningful.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Endothelial Cell Culture
  • Ando et al.; Am J Physio l. 1999 May;276(5):H1755-68
  • Lu et al.; Stem Cells Dev . 2004 Oct;13(5):521-7
  • Azuma et al.; Biochem Biophys Res Commun . 2009 Mar 13;380(3):620-6
  • Frid et al.; Circ Res . 2002 Jun 14;90(11):1189-96
  • Kovacic et al.; J Am Coll Cardiol . 2019 Jan 22;73(2):190-209
  • Jones et al.; Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol . 1999 Apr;20(4):582-94
  • Ma et al.; Front Cell Dev Biol . 2020 Apr 21;8:260
  • Kocher and Madri; In Vitro Cell Dev Biol . 1989 May;25(5):424-34
  • Amberger et al.; FEBS Lett . 1991 Aug 5;287(1-2):223-5
• Is vWF a great marker for Endothelial Cells?

  Secretory granules called Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) containing Von Willebrand factor (vWF) are more linked to the formation of a confluent endothelial monolayer. Research shows that vWF expression is dynamic and highly dependent on the cell culture conditions such as confluence and passage number.
  Therefore, having vWF as a quality control marker for each lot of ECs is not really necessary.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Endothelial Cell Culture
  • Howell et al.; Mol Membr Biol. Nov-Dec 2004;21(6):413-21
• The components of my DetachKit show different colors. Is this normal or does it affect their quality?

  The components of the PromoCell DetachKit may arrive on occasion with a non-uniform color appearance. This phenomenon is known by PromoCell’s Quality Assurance. It is reversible and does not influence the quality of the product.

  Related Links and Documents

  • PromoCell DetachKit
  • PromoCell DetachKit 2
• Can I defrost Accutase Solution, prepare aliquots and refreeze them?

  Yes, Accutase Solution can be defrosted, aliquoted, and then refrozen.

  Defrosting: Accutase should be defrosted overnight in the refrigerator or placed in a tub of cold tap water.  Do not defrost in a 37°C water bath.
  Stability: Once thawed, it is stable for at least 2 months in the refrigerator if stored promptly after use.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Accutase Solution
• Is it possible to refreeze the hCD34 progenitor cells after having amplifed them in PromoCell Hemaotopoietic Progenitor Cell Expansion Medium XF?

  Yes, it is possible to refreeze them.

  Related Links and Documents

  • CD34+ Progenitor Cells
  • HPC Expansion Medium XF
• Why are the cryopreserved macrophages abbreviated as hMDM-GMCSF(-) and hMDM-MCSF(-), respectively? What does the (-) stand for?
  • hMDM-GMCSF is the abbreviation for human monocyte-derived macrophages. They are polarized [⇒ differentiated with GM-CSF] but non-activated [⇒ (-)] M1 macrophages. 
  • hMDM-MCSF is the abbreviation for human monocyte-derived polarized [⇒ differentiated with M-CSF] but non-activated [⇒ (-)] M2 macrophages. 

  The macrophages can be seeded into all kinds of TC vessels. After plating, they can be maintained as biologically functional adherent cultures for several weeks.Optionally, user-customizable activation of the cells can be performed. For details, please see attached Application Note, page 2, Fig. 3 and page 5, Tab. 1).

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note: Assay-ready adherent cultures of fully functional human primary macrophages using cryopreserved cells
  • Cryopreserved Macrophages
  • Macrophage Generation Media DXF
• If I isolate fresh CD14-monocytes for M1/M2 macrophage generation, can I culture them for a period of time before differentiation?

  This is not advised. Please seed the freshly isolated CD14-monocytes immediately in the Monocyte Attachment Medium. Adding a culturing step will change the biological characteristics of monocytes very rapidly.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note: Differentiation of M1- or M2-Macrophages from PBMC/Monocytes
  • Monocyte Attachment Medium
• Can you provide a list of cell lines that have been successfully used for tumorsphere formation with the PromoCell 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF?

  The following cell lines have been tested at PromoCell to form tumorspheres in 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF (C-28070):

  • U-87 MG
  • MCF-7
  • MDA-MB-231
  • HT-29
  • HT1080
  • HepG2
  • A-549
  • Panc-1
  • LNCaP
  • A-431

  ⇒ For more details, please view the attached Application Note.
  In addition, we have received customer feedbacks for the following cell lines:

  • HCT-116 (human colorectal carcinoma cell line)
  • Capan-1 (human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line)
  • PC3 (human prostate cancer cell line)
  • C42B (osteotropic prostate cancer cell line)
  • NCI-H23 (human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cells)
  • IMR-32 (human neuroblast cell line)
  • A818-6 (human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line)
  • HEK293 (human embryonic kidney cells)
  • Calu-1 (non-small-cell lung cancer cell line)

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note: Tumorsphere Culture of Cancer Stem Cells (CSC) with the PromoCell 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF
  • 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF
• Can PromoCell MSC Growth Medium 2 (C-28009) be used for Mesenchymal Stem Cells from rat?

  Yes, we have received a customer feedback that our MSC Growth Medium 2 also works for rat MSCs.
  The rat cells grow nicely in this medium and have a good viability.

  Related Links and Documents

  • MSC Growth Medium 2
• Which medium does PromoCell recommend for endothelial cell transfection ?

  There are several factors that can influence successful transfections, e.g. viability and density of the cells, choice of the transfection reagent, quality and type of the transfected molecules (plasmids, siRNA, oligonucleotides), as well as the culture medium and supplements used.
  When using PromoCell Endothelial Cell Growth Media for cell transfection, please follow the instructions below:

  Heparin, which is included in our Endothelial Cell Growth Medium (C-22010/C-22110), Medium 2 (C-22011/C-22111) and Medium MV (C-22020/C-22120) may reduce the transfection efficiency.  We therefore recommend to use our heparin-free Endothelial Cell Growth Medium MV2 (C-22022/C-22121). Alternatively, you may use Endothelial Cell Growth Medium Kit (C-22110), Medium 2 Kit (C-22111), or Medium MV Kit (C-22120) without adding the ECGS/heparin supplement to the Basal Medium.

  Please note: Before and after transfection, the cells should be cultured in complete Growth Medium including heparin to ensure optimal growth.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Manual: Endothelial Cell Growth Medium/Medium 2
  • Manual: Endothelial Cell Growth Medium MV/ MV2
  • Cell Transfection reagents
• Are there PromoCell specialized media / primary human cells alternatives to other supplier’s products?

  Please see our attached alternative product guides for media and cells.

  Please note: Our media do not contain antibiotics. For optimal cell growth, we recommend to refrain from using antibiotics. However, when a sterile environment cannot be 100% ensured, it may be advisable to add antibiotics to your media so as to protect the cultures from potential microbial infections.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Alternative Product Guide - Primary Human Cells: Lonza® – PromoCell
  • Alternative Product Guide - Primary Human Cell Media: Lonza® – PromoCell
  • PromoCell's packaging systems: Medium (Ready-to-use) vs. Medium Kit
• Do I have to use coated tissue culture vessels for culturing PromoCell Normal Human Cells?

  It is not necessary to use coated flasks for (most of) our Normal Human Cells but it can be done. As coating with extracellular matrix proteins can affect cellular metabolism, it is recommended to use the same coating material for a complete set of experiments.
  Cells that need to be grown on coated dishes:

  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells (C-12974/C-12971/C-12977) need Fibronectin-coating when grown in PromoCell MSC Growth Medium XF (C-28019) and when differentiated in MSC Neurogenic (C-28015), Adipogenic (C-28016), or Osteogenic (C-28013) Differentiation Media.
  • Human monocyte-derived macrophages (C-12914/C-12916/C-12915/C-12917) must be seeded into Fibronectin-coated culture vessels in combination with PromoCell’s M1- and M2-Generation Media XF (C-28055, C-28056).
  • For efficient induction of osteoblast mineralization with PromoCell’s Osteoblast Mineralization Medium (C-27020), the TC plates should be pre-coated with collagen type I.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture
  • Macrophage Cell Culture
  • Osteoblast Cell Culture
  • Fibronection Solution
• Does the PromoCell 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF (C-28070) maintain the stem cell character of cancer stem cells?

  During our quality control we do not determine the presence or maintenance of respective stem cell markers in the tumorspheres. We use a functional approach instead, by culturing the tumorspheres over serial passages in C-28070. Tumorsphere formation requires the biological features of Anoikis resistance and self-renewal and therefore indicates the presence of cancer stem cells (CSC)/cancer initiating cells (CIC) in the spheres. 3D tumorsphere culture thus allows scientists to study the biology of CSCs without any background knowledge on CSC markers.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Product Manual: 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF
  • Application Note: Tumorsphere Culture of Cancer Stem Cells (CSC) with the PromoCell 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF
  • Application Note: Determination of the Tumorsphere Formation Efficiency (TFE) with the PromoCell 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF
• What are the characteristic markers of HDLEC (C-12216, C-12217) and HDBEC (C-12211, C-12225)?
  • HDLEC and HDBEC both express the typical endothelial cell marker CD31 (= PECAM-1). 
  • HDLEC cultures are additionally tested positive for podoplanin, a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in lymphatic vessel formation, whereas HDBECs are podoplanin-negative.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Microvascular Endothelial Cells
• Can I use the 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF for mouse cell lines?

  Yes, we have received a customer feedback that our 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF (C-28070) has been successfully used for tumorsphere formation of mouse cell lines.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Tumorsphere Culture of Cancer Stem Cells (CSC) with the PromoCell 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF
  • 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF
• What’s the chemical basis of Mycoplasma-ExS Spray? How does it work?

  Mycoplasma-ExS Spray uses a silver-based technology to eliminate microbes. It contains active polymerically stabilized ionical silver chloride (AgCl) that is UV-stable. 
  The silver chloride forms a thin film on any surface, providing an immediate antimicrobial effect. Moreover, it can be also used for long-term elimination because the silver and chloride ions are released extremely slow from the silver polymer layer.
  Mycoplasma-ExS is effective against a broad spectrum of unwanted microbes commonly found in biological labs including Mycoplasma, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enteroccocus hirae, and Staphylococcus aureus. 

  Related Links and Documents

  • Mycoplasma-ExS Spray
• When should I use phenol red-free basal media for cell culture?

  It has been shown that phenol red has estrogenic properties. Phenol red-free media are therefore generally used in studies evaluating steroid hormone action in cultured, estrogen-responsive cells (Berthois et al., 1986). Furthermore, phenol red can also interfere with some analytical methods like photometric analyses.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Berthois et al.; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Apr;83(8):2496-500
• Where can I find the composition of your basal media?

  The formulation of our basal media is proprietary information. If you need to know the concentration of a particular component for your experiments, please contact the PromoCell Technical Customer Service.

• Where can I find the composition of the supplements?

  The qualitative and quantitative composition of the supplements can be found on our website and in the data sheets of the specialized media. When there is no such information specified, the composition of the supplements is confidential.

• What antibiotics concentration should I add to the PromoCell media?

  If antibiotics are deemed necessary the recommended final concentrations are:
  100 U/ml penicillin + 100 µg/ml streptomycin or
  50 µg/ml gentamicin + 50 ng/ml amphotericin B

  Please note: Addition of antibiotics can reduce the growth rate of the cells.

• Are the Renal Epithelial Cells isolated from proximal or distal tubuli?

  PromoCell provides two types of Renal Epithelial Cells: Human Renal Epithelial Cells (HREpC) and Human Renal Cortical Epithelial Cells (HRCEpC).
  HREpC are isolated from the adult kidney and stain positive for cytokeratin. They comprise a heterogeneous population of renal epithelial cells. HRCEpC are isolated from the cortex of the kidney and comprise cells from proximal and distal tubuli. They also stain positive for cytokeratin.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Epithelial Cells
• How does PromoCell characterize their kidney cells (HREpC; HRCEpC) ?

  Our kidney cells are characterized by their epithelial cell morphology and by cytokeratin expression using a pan-cytokeratin antibody.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Renal epithelial cells
• What is the difference between PromoCell’s HREpC and HRCEpC?

  Our HREpC (C-12665) comprise a heterogenous mixture of renal epithelial cells isolated from cortex and medulla. The HRCEpC (C-12660) are derived from renal cortex only.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Renal Epithelial Cells
  • Schematic structure of a kidney
• What could be the reason for a lower yield when using M2 Macrophage Generation Medium compared to M1 Macrophage Generation Medium for a culture started with the same monocytes?

  For the M2 Macrophage Generation Medium, it is extremely important that the shelf life of 2 weeks (after addition of the cytokines) is not exceeded; the yield will quickly decrease thereafter. It is best to use the M2 medium as fresh as possible to avoid discrepancies between M1 and M2 yield.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note: Differentiation of M1- or M2-Macrophages from PBMC/Monocytes
  • Macrophage Generation Media DXF
• Can the PromoKine 3D Cell Culture Harvesting Kit also be used to isolate cells from Collagen or Laminin matrices?

  Yes, it is possible. The kit is matrix agnostic. However, it might be necessary to optimize the incubation time.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Instruction Manual: 3D Cell Culture Harvesting Kit
  • 3D Cell Culture - Cell Harvesting
• What is the differentiation ratio that can be achieved with PromoCell’s subcutaneous HWP?

  Most of our subcutaneous preadipocyte lots achieve > 80-90% differentiation when differentiation is induced at P2 (directly after thawing).
  We generally recommend using cells for differentiation tests that haven’t undergone more than 4-5 doublings (a maximum of 1 passage after thawing), as the differentiation ratio will decline with the age of the cells.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Human White Preadipocytes
  • Preadipocyte Growth Medium
  • Preadipocyte Differentiation Medium
  • Adipocyte Nutrition Medium
• What’s the principle of Mycoplasma Test Kit I/C? Does the Kit include Taq Polymerase?

  Mycoplasma Test Kit I/C is based on the amplification of the highly conserved 16S rRNA region of the Mycoplasma genome. The PCR components (including Hot-Start Taq Polymerase) come lyophilized in 0.2 ml PCR tubes. For setting up the PCR, simply cut off the number of tubes required, rehydrate with rehydration buffer and add the sample. The Kit includes internal control DNA (as a negative control and for verifying a successful PCR run) as well as a positive control.
  A successfully performed PCR reaction is indicated by a 479 bp band (internal control) on the agarose gel. The positive control yields a band at 270 bp. PCR Mycoplasma Test Kit I is also available as Kit for Real Time PCR (PK-CA-91-3025C, PK-CA-91-3050C).

  Related Links and Documents

  • PCR Mycoplasma Test Kit I/C
  • PCR Mycoplasma Test Kit I/RT
• After detaching the macrophages for flow cytometric analysis, I noticed that the washing and centrifugation steps take a long time. Can I shorten the spin time to 10 minutes at 350 x g?

  Spinning the cells for 15 min at 350 x g has been proven and tested by PromoCell Research & Development. The QC department uses these settings during testing. Any lower centrifugation value (g-force and/or time) will lead to significant cell loss by means of non-sedimented, but intact, macrophages.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Differentiation of M1- or M2-Macrophages from PBMC/Monocytes
  • Macrophage Generation Media DXF
  • Macrophage Detachment Solution DXF
• What is the difference between the MATra-A Reagent and the MATra-S Immobilizer?

  1. The MATra-A reagent is for adherent cells: The nucleic acid only needs to be combined to MATra-A and magnet-assisted transfection can be performed.
  2. MATra-S Immobilizer is needed for suspension cells: The cells are made adherent by incubating them with the magnetic reagent MATra-S Immobilizer. Then MATra-A loaded with the nucleic acid is applied to the culture and magnet-assisted transfection can be performed.

  Related Links and Documents

  • MATra reagents
• Is it normal that CD34+ or CD133+ progenitor cells attach to tissue culture plastic after a week-long culture in HPC Expansion Medium XF (C-28021)?

  The cells sink down to the bottom of the culture vessel but don’t really attach. They retain a roundish morphology and can be rinsed off with culture medium easily.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Human CD34+ Progenitor Cells
  • Hematopoietic Progenitor Expansion Medium XF
• At what passage are PromoCell Human Blood Cells upon arrival?

  PromoCell Blood and Blood Progenitor Cells are cryopreserved directly after isolation (= P0). They haven’t been in culture before freezing.

  Related Links and Documents

  • hCD34+
  • hMoCD14+
  • hMNC
• Will the hematopoietic progenitor cells proliferate in Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Expansion Medium XF (C-28021) without Cytokine Mix E (C-39890)?

  For the expansion of hematopoietic progenitors (CD133+ cells, CD34+ cells), PromoCell has developed Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Expansion Medium XF (C-28021), a serum-free and xeno-free formulation. The medium must be supplemented with either Cytokine Mix E (C-39890) or with the user’s own mixture of cytokines. Cytokine Mix E is a ready-to-use mix containing recombinant human TPO, SCF, flt3-ligand, and IL-3.
  The strong expansion of the progenitor cells in Expansion Medium XF + Cytokine Mix E persists for at least two weeks, resulting in a 200-300x increase of the cell number with only 20-30% differentiated cells.
  Note: If starting with CD133+ cells, the CD133 marker is getting lost during this expansion step. The resulting cells are D34⁺/CD38^–/CD133^–.

  Related Links and Documents

  • hCD34+ Progenitor Cells
  • Hematopoietic Progenitor Expansion Medium XF
• To what extent will CD133+ Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells proliferate in Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Expansion Medium XF (C-28021)?

  For optimal cell growth, human CD133⁺ Progenitors should be cultured in PromoCell Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Expansion Medium XF (C-28021) supplemented with Cytokine Mix E (C-39890) or with any other cytokine cocktail suitable to achieve optimal cell expansion. Cytokine Mix E contains recombinant human TPO, SCF, flt3-ligand and IL-3. The strong expansion of the cells will persist for approx. 2 weeks. The expansion factor is typically 75-300-fold. Most of the resulting cells will however have lost the CD133 marker (CD133^–/CD38^–/CD34⁺) but they still represent primitive HPCs.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Expansion Medium XF
• What markers does PromoCell test to characterize their Adult Human Stem and Blood Cells?

  All Adult Human Blood and Stem cells are analysed by flow cytometry to express defined markers. MSCs are additionally tested for their capacity to differentiate into the osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic lineages. For more details, please see Certificate of Analysis of the respective cell type (“Phenotypic characterization”).

  Related Links and Documents

  • PromoCell Human Blood and Stem Cells
• What happens if I grow CD34+ or CD133+ progenitors in Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Expansion Medium XF (C-28021) without Cytokine Mix E (C-39890)?

  The cells will die. Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Expansion Medium XF always must be supplemented with Cytokine Mix E or an appropriate cocktail of cytokines.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Human CD34+ Progenitor Cells
  • Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Expansion Medium XF
• What is the difference between DC Generation Medium XF (C-28052) and DC Base Medium XF (C-28054)?
  • DC Base Medium XF (C-28054) consists of 250 ml Basal Medium + SupplementMix. It does not include cytokines and must therefore be supplemented according to the user’s individual needs.

  • DC Generation Medium XF (C-28052) is ready-to-use and consists of 250 ml Basal Medium + SupplementMix + appropriate cytokines.

  Both, Base Medium XF and Generation Medium XF have a xeno-free formulation.

  Related Links and Documents

  • DC Media XF
• What are the advantages of using PromoCell DC Generation Medium XF for dendritic cell generation?

  Our DC Generation Medium XF (C-28052) has a xeno-free formulation. It provides a complete media system (ready-to-use, all cytokines included) and shows efficient and reproducible in vitro maturation of moDCs from freshly isolated peripheral blood monocytes.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Dendritic Cell Generation Medium XF
• I would like to know if the Lymphocyte Separation Medium (C-44010) is endotoxin tested.

  Yes, our Lymphocyte Separation Medium 1077 is endotoxin-tested. The specification for the product is < 10EU/ml.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Lymphocyte Separation Medium
• Can you please let me know if the NAD/NADH Quantitation Kit (PK-CA577-K337) can be used on bacteria samples?

  We have optimized the assay protocol for samples of mammalian origin. However, theoretically it should work with samples from multiple origins including bacteria. Since we have not done it ourselves, I do not know if the assay protocol is the most optimized for such samples, so you may have to do some optimization to get the most efficient results. The one suggestion I can give is to increase the number of cells used, since bacterial cells are smaller than mammalian cells.

  Related Links and Documents

  • NAD/NADH Quantitation Kit
• In the manual of your PromoFluor Protein Labeling Kit it is specified that it labels protein with a mass higher than 25 kDa. I am interested in labelling recombinant mouse GM-CSF (14 kDa). Would the kit be suitable ?

  The molecular weight of the protein should exceed 25 kDa because the labeled protein will be separated from the free unreacted dye by size exclusion chromatography with the spin columns. If the protein is too small, the separation will not be successful. Alternatively you can use dialysis to get rid of the free dye.

  Related Links and Documents

  • PromoFluor Protein & Antibody Labeling Kits
• Which Mycoplasma species can be detected with PCR Mycoplasma Test Kit II?

  Please view attached document which lists all the Mycoplasma/Spiroplasma/Acholeplasma species that can be detected with this kit (based on sequence alignments).

  Related Links and Documents

  • PCR Mycoplasma Test Kit II
  • Detectable Mycoplasma strains
• Is it possible to use the Bacteria Live/Dead Staining Kit (PK-CA707-30027) for Cyanobacterium?

  This kit has been used successfully on gram positive and gram negative bacteria, but we don’t have any knowledge on whether it will work with cyanobacteria.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Bacteria Live/Dead Staining Kit
• In the past, we used MSC Growth Medium (C-28010) in our lab. Can I use MSC Growth Medium 2 (C-28009) instead? What is the difference?

  MSC Growth Medium 2 (C-28009) is an optimized medium formulation with reduced serum content to allow for more standardized culture conditions (considerably lower lot to lot variation).
  You can replace MSC Growth Medium by MSC Growth Medium 2. Coating of culture vessels is not necessary. We recommend to plate the cells (hMSCs from bone marrow, adipose tissue, or umbilical cord) at 4,000 cells/cm².

  Related Links and Documents

  • Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Media
• How do I best isolate RNA from PromoCell cell pellets (C-14**)?

  There are two options for isolating RNA from cells stored in RNAlater Solution:
  1) The solution is removed from the cells prior to extraction. Because of the density of RNAlater Solution, greater centrifugal forces are required to spin down the cells. We recommend to transfer the content of the vial into a 15 ml conical tube, to add an equal volume of PBS and to spin down the cells at 5,000 x g for 10 minutes at 4°C.
  2) Alternatively, cells in RNAlater Solution can be used directly for RNA extraction. Because of the greater volume (200 µl), this method generally requires additional lysis solution.

• Which plates does PromoCell recommend as 96-well U bottom suspension plates for chondrogenic differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells?

  For chrondrogenic differentiation it is important that the cells do not adhere to the wells. During differentiation, the cells form spheroids which float in the medium. Therefore, there are no special requirements for the wells as long as they are U bottom shaped and suitable for suspension culture.

  Related Links and Documents

  • hMSC
  • Chondrogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
• Does the differentiation capacity of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells change over time? When should I best induce differentiation?

  We have tested the differentiation capacity of our hMSC into adipocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts over time and still see good differentiation rates after 10 population doublings, i.e. at passage 5. However, the differentiation potential declines with ongoing population doublings. To obtain optimal differentiation rates, experiments should be performed as early in culture as possible.

  Related Links and Documents

  • hMSC
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Media
• Can I detect the differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by their morphology, without doing any cell staining?
  • Adipogenic differentiation can be identified morphologically and without any staining by the formation of intracellular lipid vesicles.
  • In contrast, when MSC differentiate into bone cells, there is no significant change in morphology. It is recommended to perform Alkaline Phosphatase staining to detect osteoblastic differentiation or Alizarin Red S staining to show osteoblast mineralization.
  • Chondrogenic differentiation is generally performed as spheroids in 3-D cell culture and not in 2-D monolayer culture. Staining with Alcian Blue to visualize the differentiation process is indispensable.
  • Neurogenic differentiation can be detected using neuron specific markers (e.g. beta-3 tubulin, NeuN, MAP2) and by their typical neuronal morphology.

  For differentiation protocols, please see attached Application Notes.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Product Manual: hMSC
  • Application Note: Adipogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
  • Application Note: Osteogenic Differentiation and Mineralization of MSC
  • Application Note: Chondrogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
  • Application Note: Neurogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
• How do mesenchymal stem cells from different tissues differ in terms of their biological function?

  The human MSC derived from bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord matrix are from different origins, but with comparable biological properties and function. Depending on the tissue of origin, they may have a higher preference for differentiation into one particular cell type and a lower preference for another one, but they all still retain the differentiation potential for the mesenchymal lineage.

  Related Links and Documents

  • hMSC
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Media
• Can I expand the human Mesenchymal Stem Cells prior to differentiating them?

  These cells are frozen at the end of 2^nd culture. Thawing and seeding results in passage 2 (3^rd culture). We recommend that they be used for differentiation experiments not later than passage 5.
  The differentiation potential of hMSC in vitro is reduced with ongoing population doublings, meaning the earlier differentiation is induced, the higher the differentiation rates.

  Related Links and Documents

  • hMSC
• What is the expected differentiation rate when using PromoCell Mesenchymal Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation Medium with hMSC-BM?

  The differentiation rate into the osteogenic lineage is 70-100%.

  Related Links and Documents

  • hMSC-BM
  • MSC Osteogenic Differentiation Medium
  • Application Note: Osteogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
• Does PromoCell offer a special 3-D system to block de-differentiation or does PromoCell have special culture conditions that stabilize the chondrocyte phenotype?

  PromoCell Chondrocytes can be expanded in normal monolayer culture using our Chondrocyte Growth Medium (C-27101). The Medium consists of an optimized formulation and is supplemented with 10 % FCS. De-differentiation of chondrocytes is a known phenomenon observed during in vitro-culture after a period of approx. 2 weeks, but in vitro-culture is needed to expand the cells.
  Once a suitable cell number is obtained, the monolayer system can be changed to a more complex 3-D system either by culturing the cells on substrates like alginate beads, gels, or degradable polymer scaffolds or by using 3-D spheroid culture. Using appropriate conditions, re-differentiation is triggered and the cells start producing cartilage-specific ECM again.
  PromoCell does not supply a special culture system but we use 3-D spheroid culture and Alcian Blue staining to characterize our chondrocytes during quality control. The protocol is very similar to the one we use for chondrogenic differentiation of MSC.

  Related Links and Documents

  • HCH
  • Chondrocyte Growth Medium
  • Chondrogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
• When should I use DetachKit, when DetachKit-2?

  Our DetachKit (C-41200) is optimized for primary cells and can be used to trypsinize all Normal Human Cells supplied by PromoCell.
  Detach Kit-2 was developed for very gentle detachment and is still used by some investigators to subculture Human Nasal Epithelial Cells (HNEpC).

  Related Links and Documents

  • DetachKit
• At what passage are PromoCell Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Pericytes upon arrival?

  Our Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Human Pericytes are cryopreserved at the end of secondary culture (P1). After thawing, they are in P2.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Human Pericytes
  • Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
• How big is the portion of MSC that can be differentiated into neuronal lineages?

  Usually 90-100% of the hMSC show a neuronal morphology after differentiation with our Mesenchymal Stem Cell Neurogenic Differentiation Medium (C-28015). 60-80% of them are positive for nissl bodies after a nissl stain. However, the differentiation capacity depends on the origin of the cells and the number of population doublings they have undergone.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Instruction Manual: Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • Instruction Manual: MSC Media
  • Application Note: Neurogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
• How does PromoCell characterize their MSC-AT (C-12977)?

  Our hMSC-AT are characterized by their differentiation potential into chondrocytes, fat cells, and bone cells. In addition, we determine the presence of CD73, CD90 and CD105 expression as well as the absence of CD14, CD19, CD34, CD45 & HLA-DR expression by flow cytometry as proposed by the International Society for Cellular Therapy.

  Related Links and Documents

  • hMSC-AT
• After differentiation of human MSC into mature adipocytes – what medium do I have to use to culture those cells?

  Differentiation of hMSC into mature adipocytes takes approx. 2 weeks. You can keep the adipocytes for up to 3 weeks in the MSC Adipogenic Differentiation Medium. After 3 weeks we recommend to switch to PromoCell’s Adipocyte Nutrition Medium (C-27438).

  Related Links and Documents

  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • MSC Adipogenic Differentiation Medium 2
  • Adipocyte Nutrition Medium
  • Application Note: Adipogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
• How long can I keep neuronally differentiated MSC in culture?

  Changing the medium every 2-3 days, the neuronally differentiated MSC can be kept in culture for up to 2 weeks.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Instruction Manual: Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • Instruction Manual: MSC Media
  • Application Note: Neurogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
• I would like to know how homogenous the MSC population is and if all cells become osteoblasts when grown in MSC Osteogenic Differentiation Medium (C-28013).

  Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells have retained the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types including fat cells, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts. PromoCell supply hMSC from 3 different tissues: bone marrow (hMSC-BM; C-12974), umbilical cord matrix (hMSC-UC; C-12971), and adipose tissue (hMSC-AT; C-12977).

  • MSC-BM show very good differentiation into bone cells but also into chondrocytes and fat cells when the respective Differentiation Media is used.
  • MSC-UC have a high potential to differentiate into chondrocytes but only weak potential for fat or bone cell differentiation.
  • In contrast, MSC-AT differentiate very well into fat and bone cells but only moderately into chondrocytes.

  In other words, to obtain a high percentage of bone cells, MSC-BM or MSC-AT are the cells of choice. There are of course lot-to-lot variations and the differentiation will decrease from passage to passage. If you need MSCs with a particularly high osteoblast differentiation capacity, you can call our Technical Customer Service before placing your order so that we can select an appropriate cell lot for you.

  Related Links and Documents

  • hMSC
  • MSC Differentiation Media
  • Application Note: Osteogenic Differentiation and Analysis of MSC
• What population doubling times can I expect when growing PromoCell’s Mesenchymal Stem Cells? How long does it take from seeding to subculture?

  The population doubling times for PromoCell hMSC (hMSC-BM, hMSC-AT, hMSC-UC) are typically ≤ 30 hrs when using Mesenchymal Stem Cell Growth Medium 2 (C-28009).
  If you seed the hMSC at 4.000 cells/cm², it will take between 4-7 days until they reach subconfluency.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • MSC Growth Medium 2
• What types of derivatives does PromoKine have for the large stokes shift (LSS) dyes?

  Our LSS fluorophores (eg. PromoFluor 350LSS, 370LSS, 380LSS, 488LSS, 500LSS, 510LSS, 514LSS, 520LSS) are available as carboxylic acids, amino derivatives, maleimides, NHS esters and conjugated to biotin, dUTP or phalloidin.
  In addition, PF-488LSS and PF-514LSS are available as PromoFluor Labeling Kits (PK-PF-LK-xxx).

  Related Links and Documents

  • LSS dyes
  • PromoFluor Protein & Antibody Labeling Kits
• How much Aquaguard-1 or -2 should I use per water bath or incubator? What is the resulting pH?
  • Aquagard-1 (PK-CC-01-867-1B; 100 ml) for disinfecting the water in the incubator: Add 50 ml Aquaguard-1 per 5 liters of water (final ph in water: ≈ 6-7).

  • Aquaguard-2 (PK-CC-01-916-500; 500 ml) for water bath disinfection: Use 10 ml Aquaguard-2 for each liter of water and repeat the procedure every 1-2 weeks (final pH in water: ≈ 5-6).After 4-6 weeks, the bath should be emptied, cleaned and refilled with fresh water containing Aquaguard-2.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Aquaguard-1 / Aquaguard-2
• How should I use Aquaguard-1 (incubator)?

  The tray of the CO₂ incubator should be replaced with sterile water every two to four weeks, adding 50 ml of Aquaguard-1 per 5 liters of water.

  Note: The effectiveness of Aquaguard-1 will decrease after 4 weeks at 37°C.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Aquaguard-1 (incubator)
• How would you suggest Aquaguard be disposed of when replacing the incubator water? I see that it can’t be washed down the sink.

  The water with Aquaguard-1 from the incubator may be disposed to the sink as the percentage of Aquaguard is very low (0.1%). The original product solution cannot be washed down the sink (conc. = 10%) and should be disposed of according to local regulations.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Aquaguard-1
• The Certificate of Analysis of hMNC contains the percentages of the main cell types (lymphocytes, monocytes, …). How does PromoCell determine that these are monocytes?

  Our MNC lots are checked for the rate of lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes w/o staining by FSC/SSC using a flow cytometer. A sample plot is attached. For our purified CD14⁺ monocytes we additionally perform a CD14⁺ staining.

  Related Links and Documents

  • hMNC
  • CD14 monocytes
  • Mononuclear cells_FACS
• How long does it take to differentiate monocytes into mature DCs using PromoCell DC Generation Medium/DC Generation Medium XF?

  It takes 7-8 days to generate fully mature myeloid dendritic cells.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note: Generation of moDCs
  • Dendritic Cell Generation Medium XF
  • Dendritic Cell Generation Medium
• Which DC medium does PromoCell recommend for freshly isolated MNC or monocytes, which one for cryopreserved monocytes?

  The PromoCell DC Generation Media have been developed for the easy and efficient generation of immature as well as fully mature myeloid dendritic cells from peripheral blood monocytes.
  For freshly isolated mononuclear cells (MNC) and monocytes we recommend our DC Generation Medium XF (C-28052), for cryopreserved monocytes our DC Generation Medium (C-28050). When using DC Generation Medium (C-28050) with fresh MNC, the Monocyte Attachment Medium (C-28051) is needed in a first step for efficient adherence of the monocyte fraction.
  Please see Instruction Manual, Application Note and the graph below for further details.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Application Note: Generation of moDCs
  • Dendritic Cell Culture
  • PromoCell DC Generation Media
• Does PromoCell recommend a specific plasticware to use for the generation of dendritic cells from peripheral blood monocytes?

  Usually, we do not recommend specific plasticware but we have found that with PromoCell’s Dendritic Cell and Macrophage Generation Media, choice of plasticware can have a lot of an influence. For our Dendritic Cell Generation Media we recommend to use tissue culture vessels from BD Falcon^TM.

  Related Links and Documents

  • DC Generation Media
  • Application Note: Generation of moDCs
• Is there is a difference in the percentage of differentiated DCs depending on whether we start with cryopreserved or fresh isolated monocytes?

  There is no significant difference in the percentage of cells that will differentiate into Dendritic Cells. But when using cryopreserved cells, the initial cell loss will be higher compared to when fresh cells are used. i.e. the final number of differentiated cells that can be expected will be higher with fresh cells as a starting material due to lower cell death rate.

  Related Links and Documents

  • DC Generation Media
  • Generation of monocyte derived Dendritic Cells
• We use Macrophage Generation Media from PromoCell to get differentiated macrophages from peripheral blood monocytes. The monocytes are isolated by culturing PBMCs in Monocyte Attachment Media (also from PromoCell) for 1.5 h. Would it be ok if the attachment step is done overnight, since we receive the blood later in the day which makes it difficult to process on the same day?

  It is not recommended to leave the blood cells in the Monocyte Attachment Medium for longer than 1.5-2 hrs. The medium was developed for (short-term) attachment of the monocytes and does not provide nutrients for a longer time period. Leaving the cells in Monocyte Attachment Medium for a longer time or even overnight will induce apoptosis and lead to the loss of the cells.
  If necessary, you can reduce the incubation time to 1 hr. In this case, it is advisable to equilibrate the media in the incubator before so that you can immediately and directly add the appropriate amount of PBMC suspension.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Monocyte Attachment Medium
  • Application Note: Differentiation of M1-or M2-Macrophages from PBMC/Monocytes
• What are the advantages of monocyte enrichment by adherence selection using your Monocyte Attachment Media (C-28051)?

  This method produces large numbers of adherent monocytes in only 1.5 h. If the washing steps are properly performed, 80-90% purity can be expected. The attached cells are “untouched”, since no binding of magnetic microbeads has occured. This also excludes phagocytosis of the microbeads by the monocytes, an event which is unfavorable with regard to cellular health. In addition, the adherence method is time-saving and cost-effective.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Monocyte Attachment Medium
• Can Mycoplasma synoviae be detected with PCR Mycoplasma test Kit I/C?

  No, M. synoviae is not detected using PCR Mycoplasma Test Kit I/C.

  Related Links and Documents

  • PCR Mycoplasma Test Kit I
• What are recommended methods of eliminating mycoplasma contamination on surfaces or other laboratory apparatuses?

  Mycoplasma-ExS Surface Disinfection Spray is ideal for cleaning and disinfecting all laboratory surfaces and apparatuses including clean benches, CO₂ incubators, cell storage boxes and liquid nitrogen containers. It is non-corrosive to metal, does not damage plastic or rubber and is far less damaging to most surfaces than alcohol, bleach or hydrogen peroxide.
  Mycoplasma-ExS Spray is highly effective against mycoplasmas, bacteria, fungi and viruses (including HIV and HBV).

  Related Links and Documents

  • Mycoplasma-ExS Spray
• What is the best time for sampling cell culture supernatants for mycoplasma detection?

  The cells should be cultivated to 90% confluence to guarantee a maximal density of mycoplasma in the sample volume.

  Related Links and Documents

  • PCR Mycoplasma Test Kits
• How does PromoCell determine the phototype of skin tissue donors?

  We use a classification system similar but not identical to the Fitzpatrick Skin Classification. The Fitzpatrick classification has six different categories (phototypes  I-VI) which correlate with the level of skin pigmentation (melanin) and sunburn following sun exposure. Fitzpatrick I corresponds with the lightest of skin complexions, while Fitzpatrick VI corresponds with the darkest skin.

  • I: Pale white skin, blue/hazel eyes, blond/red hair, always burns, does not tan
  • II: Fair skin, blue eyes, burns easily, tans poorly
  • III: Darker white skin, tans after initial burn
  • IV: Light brown skin, burns minimally, tans easily
  • V: Brown skin, rarely burns, tans darkly easily
  • VI: Dark brown or black skin, never burns, always tans darkly

  At PromoCell, we have knowledge of the patients’ skin color (white, brown or black skin), color of eyes and hair, but we don’t have any details about the burning/tanning abilities.
  We therefore classify our tissue donors as follows:

  • Light (comprising phototypes I and II)
  • Moderate (comprising phototypes III and IV)
  • Dark (comprising phototypes V and VI)

  Information on the phototype is available for most cell lots isolated from juvenile or adult skin.

  Related Links and Documents

  • Melanocyte Cell Culture
  • Keratinocyte Cell Culture
  • Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts
  • Human Dermal Microvascular Endothelial Cells
• Can I use your NAD/NADH Quantitation Kit (PK-CA577-K337) on plated cells?

  Yes, it is possible to use this kit for plated cells.
  For the cell sample preparation, wash cells first with cold PBS. There should be about 2 x 10⁵ cells for each assay, so about this amount of cells per well. You can then add the 400 µl of the buffer directed to the attached cells and extract by 3 freeze/thaw cycles (20 min on dry ice, then 10 min at room temperature). Use the pipette tip to gently scrape if the cells have not detached from the plate. Vortex the extraction for 10 sec. Spin the sample at 14,000 rpm for 5 min. Transfer the extracted NADH/NAD supernatant into a labeled tube. Proceed with "(C) NADH/NAD Assay Protocol" of the Instruction Manual.

  Related Links and Documents

  • NAD/NADH Quantitation Kit