1. What is cell culture
Cell culture refers to a method of simulating an in vivo environment (sterile, suitable temperature, pH, and certain nutritional conditions, etc.) in vitro to allow it to survive, grow, reproduce, and maintain its main structure and function. Cell culture, also known as cell cloning technology, is a formal term in biology called cell culture technology. Cell culture technology can transform a single cell into a simple single cell or a few differentiated multicellular cells through extensive cultivation, which is an essential step in cloning technology, and cell culture itself is the cloning of cells.
2. The main role of serum in cell culture
Serum is one of the most commonly used natural culture medium components in cell culture. It contains abundant growth factors, hormones, attachment factors, and other bioactive substances, providing necessary nutrition and support for cells. In vitro cell culture, the main functions of serum include the following:
Ø Providing basic nutrients such as amino acids, vitamins, inorganic substances, lipids, nucleic acid derivatives, etc., are essential for cell growth.
Ø Provide hormones and various growth factors: insulin, adrenal cortex hormones (hydrocortisone, dexamethasone), steroid hormones (estradiol, testosterone, progesterone), etc. Growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, platelet growth factor, etc.
Ø Providing binding proteins: Binding proteins carry important low molecular weight substances, such as albumin carrying vitamins, fats, and hormones, while transferrin carries iron. Binding proteins play an important role in cellular metabolism.
Ø Provide contact promoting and stretching factors to prevent cell adhesion from mechanical damage.
Ø It has a certain protective effect on cells in culture: some cells, such as endothelial cells and bone marrow like cells, can release proteases, and serum contains anti protease components that neutralize them. This effect was discovered by chance, but now there is a deliberate use of serum to terminate the digestion of trypsin. Because trypsin has been widely used for the digestion and passage of adherent cells. Serum proteins form the viscosity of serum, which can protect cells from mechanical damage, especially during suspension culture agitation, where viscosity plays an important role. Serum also contains some trace elements and ions that play important roles in metabolism and detoxification, such as SeO3, selenium, etc.
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