Technical library

Mature chondrocytes from articular cartilage are postmitotic producers of extracellular matrix components like collagen types II, IX, and XI and proteoglycans. Upon release from the tissue of origin and seeding in monolayer culture, cells re-enter the cell cycle and proliferate. After a period of approx. 1-3 weeks, they will gradually start dedifferentiation and will adopt a fibroblastic phenotype. Dedifferentiation can be detected by decreased collagen type II or increased collagen type I expression, as well as by the appearance of the fibroblast marker Thy-1/CD90. Re-differentiation can be induced by changing from conventional monolayer culture to a 3-D culture system.

All our chondrocytes (C-12710) are isolated either from knee joint or femoral head. If you need chondrocytes specifically from either localization, please contact our Technical Customer Service before placing your order. They will send you the available lot numbers from the localization that you are looking for.

We source the bronchial tissue from forensic medicine and from thoracic surgery. For some lots, the smoking habits of the donors are known. Please contact our Technical Customer Service before ordering the cells if you need this information.

Yes, our specialized media already contain the optimal amount of L-glutamine. In most cases, this is added in the form of stable glutamine.

Please don't add extra L-glutamine as this can be toxic for the cells.

The lead time is usually 4-8 weeks.

Pericytes have been shown to differentiate e.g. into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, fibroblasts/myofibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, and phagocytes.

Further Information

Diaz-Flores et al.

FCS is a natural product consisting of many different components like salts, hormones, vitamins, trace elements, proteins, and enzymes. There can be large lot-to-lot variations between different serum batches regarding the concentrations of growth-promoting factors. The higher the serum content in a culture medium, the higher the impact of the variations on the cell culture system. For this reason, PromoCell has developed several serum-reduced and serum-free media where part of the serum has been replaced by more defined factors like cytokines, hormones or vitamins.Media with reduced serum concentrations have the benefit that they produce more standardized culture conditions over a long time span.

PromoCell Normal Human Cells should be cultured in the appropriate medium at 37°C and 5% CO₂ in a humidified atmosphere. Please note: If using cell culture flasks w/o filter cap, unscrew the cap by half a turn to allow sufficient ventilation.

We have many customers who perform starvation with our HUVECs. Most of them use Endothelial Cell Basal Medium supplemented with FCS (0.5-1% for shorter periods; 5-20% for 24-48 hrs). The cells have to be in a good condition and the experiment should be terminated soon after starvation. Prolonged periods will induce apoptosis.

Yes, but the experimental starvation conditions have to be determined individually for each cell type. Usually, the cells are maintained in basal medium with reduced growth factor concentrations or lower FBS content. The cells need to be in a good condition and the starvation should be kept as short as possible as prolonged serum and/or growth factor deprivation induces apoptosis.