Analysis of Vero cell growth behavior on microcarrier by means of environmental scanning electron microscopy

By using environmental scanning electron microscopy, the morphological changes of Vero cells attached to and grown on the microcarrier Cytodex-3 were observed, and their behavior of adhesion, spreading and proliferation was analyzed. The effect of exogenous fibronectin/ laminin on adhesion and spreading of MCC/Vero cell was studied. The images of ESEM showed that expansion of cell growth was directed toward vacancy space. The growth curve and cell concentration change during the whole culture process were obtained from the statistical counting method based on ESEM images and the crystal violet method. The growth rate of Vero cells increases with increasing the concentration of cell inoculation, that is, the specific growth rate increases quickly with increasing the concentration of cell inoculation. When serum concentration in medium #199 ranged from 5% to 10%, experimental results indicated that serum concentration is one of the important factors influencing cell growth, particularly in the cell adhesio     

A novel serum-free medium for the cultivation of Vero cells on microcarriers

Summary A novel serum-free medium for the cultivation of Vero cells on microcarriers was developed,which composed of the 1:1 mixture of Dubecco's Modified Eagle Medium: Nutrient Mixture F12, bovine serum albumin(BSA) or human serum albumin(HSA), epidermal growth factor(EGF), gelatin and Dbiotin. Both BSA and EGF were effective on cell growth, adhesion and spreading. Further addition of gelatin and biotin led to the enhanced cell adhesion and spreading without growth promoting activity. The serum-free medium was suitable for the cultivation of vero cells on several different microcarriers with cell density reached over 3×l0⁶cells/ml.     

组成型过量表达hTERT对Vero细胞体外培养生物学特性的影响

目的：考察组成型过量表达人端粒酶催化亚单位（hTERT）对Vero细胞在无血清培养体系中的细胞形态、生长和代谢的影响。方法：以组成型过量表达hTERT的Vero细胞系T1为研究对象,以活细胞密度和细胞活力为主要观察指标,结合细胞形态和贴附伸展动态,考察T1细胞和野生型Vero细胞在静止贴附培养、微载体固定化培养和悬浮培养体系中的细胞生长;以葡萄糖比消耗速率（qglc）、乳酸比生成速率（qlac）、乳酸转化率（Ylac/glc）和谷氨酰胺比消耗率（qgin）为反映细胞代谢的主要观察指标,考察T1细胞和野生型Vero细胞在静止贴附培养、微载体固定化培养的细胞代谢。结果：hTERT组成型过量表达在降低Vero细胞的贴附伸展能力和对血清的依赖程度的同时,提高了细胞无血清批次培养后期的细胞活力和活细胞密度,并赋予了T1非贴附依赖性生长的能力。hTERT组成型过量表达未对Vero细胞的代谢产生明显的影响。结论：hTERT组成型过量表达可降低Vero细胞的贴附生长依赖性和对血清的依赖程度,是有应用潜力的改良哺乳动物细胞体外培养性状的技术途径。     

Interaction of serum and cell spreading affects the growth of neoplastic and non-neoplastic fibroblasts

Both growth factor availability and cell-to-cell contact have been mechanisms used to explain cell growth regulation at high cell density. Recently Folkman and colleagues have shown that changes in cell shape, rather than cell-to-cell contact, can regulate the growth of fibroblasts. However, in those studies the relation between serum and shape regulation of growth was not studied, nor were neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells compared. In this report we have studied these aspects by varying cell spreading and serum concentration independently for 2 non-neoplastic and 3 neoplastic cell lines. Cell spreading (projected cell area) was controlled by decreasing the adhesiveness of tissue culture plastic plates with poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [poly (HEMA)]. Cell growth was measured as the increase in cell number/day. We have found that more spreading increased net growth of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells, while less spreading (toward rounded configuration) depressed growth. There were also quantitative differences between neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells. Neoplastic cells continued to grow under conditions of cell rounding, which completely prevented the growth of their non-neoplastic counterparts. Some neoplastic cells also tended to show little or no increase in net cell number for serum concentrations above 10% as cells became more spread; in contrast, all non-neoplastic cells grew more with increasing concentrations of serum as they became well spread. Thus, in normal cells, it appears that the sensitivity of cells to humoral factors is governed by cell spreading. This interaction between serum and cell shape is less prominent in some neoplastic cells.     

CA16滴度微量检测方法的建立及其验证

目的建立用Vero细胞检测柯萨奇病毒A组16型(CA16)滴度的方法,并对其适用性进行初步验证。方法通过对细胞种类的选择、细胞接种浓度和细胞病变判定时间的优化,建立测定CA16滴度的半数细胞感染剂量法(CCID50法),并对其进行初步验证。结果通过对病毒感染后细胞病变情况的观察,确定了以Vero细胞作为CA16病毒滴度检定用细胞。Vero细胞的最佳接种浓度和结果判定时间分别为5×104~1×105细胞/mL(即96孔板内每孔加入的最终细胞量为5×103~1×104细胞)和7 d。由4组人员对6批CA16病毒液进行重复检测,实验结果表明不同实验人员测定结果的变异系数(CV)在1.739%~4.974%之间,说明该方法测定结果重复性好,准确度高。结论该法简便、稳定,可以灵敏、准确地检测CA16病毒的滴度,可用于相关疫苗生产过程中的质量控制。     

Fetal calf serum-free culture of Chinese hamster ovary cells employing fish serum

The effects of fish serum on cell growth and human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) production in an adhesion culture of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells DR1000L4N were investigated and compared with those of fetal calf serum (FCS). Although fish serum did not stimulate the initial adhesion of CHO cells to culture dishes, it prompted cell growth after cell adhesion with FCS for 24 h. The cell density in the fish serum medium reached 75% that in the FCS medium. Fish serum promoted cell adhesion to and cell growth on collagen-coated dishes. The cell-specific production rate of hGM-CSF in the fish serum medium on collagen-coated dishes was almost the same as that in the FCS medium.     

Serial propagation of mammalian cells on microcarriers

For the large-scale operation of microcarrier culture to be successful, a technically feasible method for sequential inoculation is essential. Using human foreskin fibroblasts, FS-4, we have achieved this by detaching cells viably from microcarriers employing a selection pH trypsinization technique. Cells thus detached are able to reattach to microcarriers and grow normally after subsequent reinoculation into new cultures. However, after reinoculation cells attach to new microcarriers at a higher rate than to used microcarriers on which cells have previously grown. The effect of this differential cell attachment was analyzed and overcome by employing a low inoculum concentration. FS-4 cells could thus be serially propagated on microcarriers and subsequently used for beta-interferon production. This technique has also been applied to the cultivation of a monkey kidney cell line, Vero. We have also shown that Vero cells directly inoculated from a seed microcarrier culture could be used for virus production.     

Hydrodynamic shear forces increase Japanese encephalitis virus production from microcarrier-grown Vero cells

Understanding the effect of hydrodynamic shear forces on microcarrier-attached cells is critical in several viral vaccine production processes, owing to that only the anchorage-dependent cells can be used for virus propagation in cultures. This study demonstrated that increasing the hydrodynamic shear forces in microcarrier cultures can increase the production of a vaccine strain of Japanese encephalitis virus (on a per cell basis) in Vero cells but not BHK-21. The shear force-enhanced JEV production were highly effective at around 2-3 d post infection and required the concentration of fetal bovine serum supplemented in medium above 2.5%. To our knowledge, this study reports for the first time that increasing the hydrodynamic shear forces on microcarrier-grown cells increases virus production in agitated bioreactor cultures.     

A serum factor requirement for the passage of cultured Vero cells through G2.

When Vero cells, a line derived from and African Green Monkey kidney, are grown under conditions where the saturation density is limited by serum, they deplete the growth medium of a factor necessary for cell division. The factor is a component of serum. When Vero cells are plated at low density (2 X 10(4)/cm2) in this depleted growth medium (after dialysis against serum-free Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium) they initiate an unbalanced program of growth. Protein synthesis proceeds at the same rate as parallel cells in fresh serum, and and the cells accumulate protein as a function of time. DNA synthesis is also initiated in these cells, and the amount of DNA per cell increases for the next four days plating. However the cells quickly stop dividing. Measurements of DNA per cell using microspectrofluorometry show that the cells are accumulating in the late S and G2 period during this time. Thus we conclude that these cells cannot pass through a transition point in G2. When fresh serum is added to cells after three days in depleted growth medium, they divide before they begin to synthesize DNA. This further confirms that they are in late S and G2. Cell division is promoted in Vero cells in depleted growth medium by bovine fetuin, and to a lesser extent by bovine albumin. Cell division is not promoted by insulin, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, linolenic acid, calcium, and typsin inhibitor form ovomucoid. From these data we conclude that transit through G2 requires the prescence of an extracellular factor.     

Assessment of cell-substrate adhesion by a centrifugal method

Summary A centrifugal method has been evaluated for measuring the strength of Vero Green Monkey kidney cell adhesion to growth surfaces. The centrifugal force necessary to remove cells gave a quantitative measure of cell adhesion and hence the quality of the growth surface. After being subjected to high gravity forces, both the remaining attached cells and the detached cells were viable, indicating the detachment process did not simply rupture the cell. Electron microscope examination of growth surfaces after cell detachment suggested that remnants related to filopodia remained.     

Regulation of cell motility, morphology, and growth by sulfated glycosaminoglycans

Due to the recent observation that heparin binds to several growth factors and cell adhesion molecules, the effect of heparin on biological processes governed by growth factors and cell adhesion molecules was investigated. Pharmacological doses of heparin were found to alter cell growth rate, cellular morphology, and cell motility. Concentrations (microgram/ml) of heparin or dextran sulfate decreased cell growth rate, but not the final cell density attained in plateau phase. The effect of heparin on cell growth rate was most pronounced when cells were cultured in low concentrations of serum. A heparin-induced decrease in cell growth rate could be reversed by addition of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a heparin-binding growth factor. Heparin altered the morphology of all cell lines studied to various degrees. The effect of heparin on cell morphology was quantitated by measuring the heparin-induced change in cell surface area. HT-1080 and HeLa cells nearly doubled in surface area upon exposure to 10 micrograms/ml heparin. Since several heparin-binding cell adhesion proteins mediate both cell spreading and cell migration, the influence of heparin on cell migration was investigated with an improved version of the phagokinetic track technique. Low concentrations of heparin and dextran sulfate were found to increase the rate of cell migration in a dose-dependent fashion. Since the quantitative effect of heparin on cell growth rate, morphology, and migration depends on the cell line studied, it is suggested that three separate phenomena may be involved. The results presented indicate a central role for sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the control of both cell growth and cell-cell interactions.     

The dynamics and mechanics of endothelial cell spreading

Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix is mediated by receptor-ligand interactions. When a cell first contacts a surface, it spreads, exerting traction forces against the surface and forming new bonds as its contact area expands. Here, we examined the changes in shape, actin polymerization, focal adhesion formation, and traction stress generation that accompany spreading of endothelial cells over a period of several hours. Bovine aortic endothelial cells were plated on polyacrylamide gels derivatized with a peptide containing the integrin binding sequence RGD, and changes in shape and traction force generation were measured. Notably, both the rate and extent of spreading increase with the density of substrate ligand. There are two prominent modes of spreading: at higher surface ligand densities cells tend to spread isotropically, whereas at lower densities of ligand the cells tend to spread anisotropically, by extending pseudopodia randomly distributed along the cell membrane. The extension of pseudopodia is followed by periods of growth in the cell body to interconnect these extensions. These cycles occur at very regular intervals and, furthermore, the extent of pseudopodial extension can be diminished by increasing the ligand density. Measurement of the traction forces exerted by the cell reveals that a cell is capable of exerting significant forces before either notable focal adhesion or stress fiber formation. Moreover, the total magnitude of force exerted by the cell is linearly related to the area of the cell during spreading. This study is the first to monitor the dynamic changes in the cell shape, spreading rate, and forces exerted during the early stages (first several hours) of endothelial cell adhesion.     

Cellular affinity is the only deciding factor for microcarrier selection for the cultivation of anchorage dependent cells

Summary Vero and BHK-21 cells are not attached and spreaded equally on the same microcarrier. BHK-21 cells require a microenvironment similar to the mammalian tissue for attachment and spreading. Cellular affinity, which control adhesion to the surface, varied with the growth phase, membrane integrity and the type of microcarrier.     

牛蛙皮胶原蛋白酸提取条件优化及其对细胞生长和粘附性的影响

应用羟脯氨酸法测定了牛蛙皮胶原蛋白含量,通过正交实验对牛蛙皮胶原蛋白酸法提取条件进行了优化,并结合MTT法测定了胶原蛋白对细胞生长和粘附性的影响。结果显示,牛蛙皮胶原蛋白的含量约为45．1％;温度条件对提取率影响最大,其次依次为酸种、时间和浓度,最优组合为乙酸、1．5mol／L、37℃、24h;在低浓度时,牛蛙皮胶原蛋白对正常人类肝细胞的生长和粘附性无显著影响,当浓度升高到一定值时,对细胞生长和粘附性有显著促进作用。     

The effects of staurosporine and okadaic acid on baby hamster kidney fibroblast cell adhesion.

The effects of staurosporine, a potent protein kinase C inhibitor, and okadaic acid, a non-TPA tumour promoter, on the adhesion of BHK fibroblast were investigated. Staurosporine at 2.5 and 5 microM was found to stimulate a gradual increase in BHK cell adhesion as well as spreading in 3% serum-containing medium. An increase of approximately 27% over the control value was found at 5 microM concentration in 20 minutes. No such effect was seen in serum-free conditions. Staurosporine at 5 microM, enhanced BHK cell-cell adhesion in 3% serum and in serum-free conditions. Okadaic acid, a phosphatase inhibitor, at concentrations between 0.25 and 1 microgram/ml, was found to inhibit BHK cell-substratum adhesion and spreading. The inhibitory effect was time and concentration dependent. These findings suggest that protein kinase C might be involved in the mechanism(s) controlling BHK cell attachment.     

Hamster peritoneal macrophages in vitro: substratum adhesion, spreading, phagocytosis and phagolysosome formation

A series of manipulations designed to promote cell adhesion and spreading made it possible to maintain satisfactorily hamster peritoneal macrophages in vitro for up to 30 days. The essential requirements for this include in vivo stimulation of the peritoneal cavity, coating of the substratum with polylysine, and the use of HEPES-buffered medium 199 supplemented with horse serum (10%), fetal bovine serum (10%), and lactalbumin hydrolysate (0.5%). Results with the single deletion of the medium components indicate that serum factors are essential for optimal spreading, and horse serum and lactalbumin hydrolysate for the adhesion of in vivo stimulated macrophages on coated glass surface. The thorotrast-labeling method revealed that secondary lysosomes are especially numerous in cultured cells, which otherwise resemble mouse macrophages in cellular organization, as shown by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. More than 95% of the cultured cells manifested cytochalasin B-sensitive phagocytosis of polystyrene latex spheres which, along with morphologic and ultrastructural evidence, indicate the homogeneity of cell population. Erythrophagocytosis of hamster macrophages was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and found higher after opsonization implying the presence of receptors for immune ligands on their cell surface.     

Cultivation of mammalian cells on macroporous microcarriers.

Adherent cells can be cultivated in a stirred-tank bioreactor by attaching to microcarriers. Macroporous microcarriers, with their intraparticle space and surface area for cell growth, can potentially support a higher cell concentration than conventional microcarriers, which support cell growth only on the external surface. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and green monkey kidney (Vero) cells were cultivated on macroporous microcarriers, Cultispher-G. Cells attached to the microcarriers at a slow rate and grew to a high density. Thin sections of the microcarriers demonstrate that cells were initially on the exterior of the microcarriers and migrated into the interior as cell concentration increased. Vero cells cultivated on these microcarriers were successfully used for the production of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV).     

The serum-free growth of cultured cells in bovine colostrum and in milk obtained later in the lactation period

Seven established cell lines, including both epithelial cells and fibroblasts (MDCK, Vero, CV-1, NRK, 3T3, F2408, and NIL8) and four early passage cell strains (bovine articular chondrocytes, bovine smooth muscle cells, human foreskin fibroblasts, and rat embryo cells) were cultured in serum-free medium supplemented with milk obtained 1 day after birth (colostrum) or 80 days after birth (older milk). MDCK, Vero, CV-1, NRK, and 3T3 grew readily in colostrum and attained saturation densities ranging from 22% to 63% of that in serum. There was no growth of F2408, NIL8, or the early passage strains in bovine colostrum. None of the 11 cell cultures grew in older milk. The temporal dependence of growth in milk was examined in detail using MDCK cells. Growth equivalent to that in serum occurred in 3% colostrum and in 15% milk obtained 2 days after birth. Milk obtained 3 days and 10 days after birth was not effective as a growth supplement for MDCK cells at any concentration. Those cells, unable to grow in colostrum or in older milk, could be induced to grow if culture dishes were precoated with fibronectin. In addition to fibronectin, it was necessary in some cultures to supplement colostrum or older milk with insulin and/or transferrin in order to achieve growth. In the presence of fibronectin and appropriate factors, the final saturation density attained in colostrum or older milk ranged from 25% to 100% of that in serum. The fibronectin contents of bovine colostrum and milk were determined. The fibronectin level of colostrum was found to be approximately 5% of bovine serum. There was no detectable fibronectin in the 80-day-old milk.     

Use of growth-attachment correlation plots to analyse human melanoma cell dependency on 2-oxocarboxylates and serum

Modulation of the population-dependent growth of the human melanoma line MM96 by serum and a series of 2-oxocarboxylates was analysed by a method offering several useful features. Initial cell attachment was measured by the use of cells prelabelled with [14C] thymidine (C) while the size of the replicating cell population on any particular day was monitored by [3H] thymidine (H) incorporation for that particular 24 hr. The 3H incorporation was normalized for the initial cell attachment as the 3H/14C ratio (H/C), which was found to be little affected by artifacts of precursor equilibration. The method allows large numbers of replicate samples so that quantitation of dose-response relationships is simple and statistically robust, and simultaneous monitoring of cell attachment and growth within the same sample is routine. Not only cell growth, but also attachment to the culture vessel surface was found to be increased by higher seeded population densities, by increasing serum concentration and by pyruvate supplementation. Further investigation of the pyruvate effect showed that all nine of the soluble 2-oxocarboxylates tested were effective for both parameters, with little difference between them which was attributable to molecular structure. Quantitative studies of the potentiation of growth and attachment by increasing cell density or a range of concentrations of 2-oxocarboxylates led to the finding that increments in the growth parameter (H/C) were directly proportional to increments in attachment (C). Such a relationship would be unexpected in ordinary logarithmically-growing cultures. The observation is consistent with the hypothesis that increases in initial cell attachment, whether induced by 2 oxocarboxylates or higher inoculation densities, lead to conditioning of the medium by cell factors which stimulate growth and are produced in amounts proportional to the attached cell numbers. Pyruvate, when present with higher serum concentrations, stimulated growth above the levels accounted for by concomitant increases in cell attachment. Serum also appears to have other potentiating factors in addition to those attributable to its content of 2-oxocarboxylates. Differences in the response to 2-oxocarboxylates of human melanoma cells and human diploid fibroblasts were noted, and suggest that the present observations may be due to unique properties of the melanoma cell.     

Morphology of fibroblastic cells cultured on poly(HEMA-co-AA) substrates

Fibroblastic cells in culture are characteristically elongated and grow in monolayers. This growth pattern can be modified by different factors, such as substrate interaction. It is characteristic of hydrogels made of poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (polyHEMA) that they inhibit cellular attachment and spreading. Vero cells were cultured on porous samples of polyHEMA and the copolymer poly(HEMA-co-AA) with 7.5% (w/w) and 15% (w/w) acrylic acid. Cultures were maintained for 2 and 10 days in HAM F10 medium with 10% foetal calf serum. Hydrogel samples were processed for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The round Vero cells proliferated on the hydrogels and were principally located inside the pores. Some cells were aggregated, but no extracellular matrix was found. The copolymer with 15% (w/w) acrylic acid was the most suitable substrate and should be used in future tests of morphological differentiation and induction of cellular function.