Synovial joints are unique functional elements of the body and provide the ability for locomotion and for physical interaction with the environment[1,2]. The inner lining of the joint consists of the synovium, also called the synovial membrane, a thin layer located between the joint capsule and the joint cavity. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are mesenchymal origin cells located inside the synovial membrane. FLS display many characteristics common with fibroblasts, such as expression of several types of collagens and protein vimentin, a part of cytoskeletal filament. Once activated, FLS are suggested to acquire a myofibroblast-like phenotype that drives fibrogenesis through excessive extracellular matrix component deposition and an enhanced contractile function. These cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, Human FLS are an important model to understand articular function in degenerative and inflammatory joint diseases[1-3].

iXCells Biotechnologies provides high quality Human Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes- Osteoarthritis (HFLS-OA), which are isolated from osteoarthritic human synovial membrane and cryopreserved at P2, with ≥0.5 million cells in each vial. HFLS-OA express fibronectin and vimentin and are characterized by their spindle-shaped morphology. They are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi and can be further expanded for no more than 3 passages in Synoviocyte Growth Medium (Cat# MD-0056) under the conditions suggested by iXCells Biotechnologies.

Figure 1. Human Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes-Osteoarthritis (HFLS-OA). The cells were recovered, and seeded at 10,000 cells/cm² following iXCells’ protocol. Phase contrast images were taken at the indicated time post recovery.

Figure 2. Immunofluorescence staining with antibodies against Vimentin (green) and Fibronectin (red) of Human Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes–Osteoarthritis (HFLS-OA).

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Fibroblasts are malleable cell types, capable of altering its function and physiology or even transforming into a new cell type, based on its location within the body. Gastric fibroblasts, isolated from the stomach, are one of the mesenchymal cells derived from the embryonic mesoderm. Human Gastric Fibroblasts are responsible for secretion of extracellular matrix in connective tissues and play a key role in ulcer wound healing [1,2]. Several studies have shown that gastric fibroblasts can regulate epithelial regeneration by influencing epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. In contrast to their role in wound healing, human gastric fibroblasts have shown to be a key contributor in the development and progression of gastric carcinomas [1,3]. Therefore, human gastric fibroblasts are a useful model for examining the underlying mechanisms that cause gastric carcinoma and may provide novel insights for developing new cancer drug therapies.

iXCells Biotechnologies provides high quality Human Gastric Fibroblasts isolated from the stomach of healthy donors. Each vial contains ≥0.5 million cells cryopreserved at P1 and are delivered frozen. iXCell’s Human Gastric Fibroblasts are characterized by immunofluorescence using antibodies specific to fibronectin and vimentin. These cells are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi. They can be further expanded in Fibroblast Growth Medium (Cat# MD-0011) for no more than 3 passages under the condition suggested by iXCells biotechnologies.

Figure 1. Phase contrast and ICC staining images of Human Gastric Fibroblasts using antibodies specific to Fibronectin and Vimentin (Green).

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Fibroblasts, one of the most abundant cell types, are morphologically and functionally heterogeneous [1]. Human pulmonary fibroblasts (HPF) play an important role in maintaining the structural integrity of connective tissue and in the synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins such as collagens and glycoproteins [2]. Under pathological conditions, such as tissue injury, HPF are stimulated to take part in the process of airway inflammation and airway remodeling which might directly or indirectly lead to angiogenesis, idiopathic fibrosis or even cancer [3]. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, progressive illness of the respiratory system, characterized by replacement of healthy lung tissue with altered extracellular matrix and alveolar architecture is destroyed. IPF is believed to be the result of an aberrant wound healing process involving abnormal fibroblasts activation [4].

iXCells Biotechnologies provides high quality HPF, which are isolated from lung tissue of IPF patients. It provides a robust model for in vitro studies of IPF as well as other fibroblasts related diseases. HPF from iXCells Biotechnologies are cryopreserved at P2, with >0.5 million cells in each vial. HPF express Fibronectin and Vimentin. They are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi and can further expand for 10 population doublings in Fibroblast Growth Medium (Cat# MD-0011) under the condition suggested by iXCells Biotechnologies.

Figure 1. Human Pulmonary Fibroblasts (HPF, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis). The cells were recovered, and seeded at 10,000 cells/cm2 following iXCells’ protocol. Phase contrast images were taken at the indicated time post recovery.

Figure 2. Immunofluorescence staining of Human Pulmonary Fibroblasts (HPF, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) with antibodies against Fibronectin (Red) and Vimentin (Green). Nuclei were counterstained by DAPI (Blue).

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Schwann cells are the principal glia of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). They are responsible for creating myelin sheath that insulates nerve fibers (axons) which are crucial for maintaining nerve health and normal function, and they also support axon regeneration after injury [1]. In vitro cultured Schwann cells are useful tools to study their biology, development, pathophysiology and potential relationship with neurons. These studies involve isolating or differentiating Schwann cells from various sources, including primary PNS tissue or stem cells. Over the past few years, there has been considerable progress in the iPSC derived Schwann cells research. Normal or patient donor specific iPSC-derived Schwann cells offer an attractive experimental platform to study the development of PNS system, model Schwann cells related diseases, and accelerate predictive drug toxicology tests, and advance potential therapies [2]. 

iXCells® Schwann Cell Maintenance Medium (SKU: MD-0124) is a complete medium for iPSC derived Schwann cells culture. It is a serum (low concentration) and antibiotic-antimycotic containing medium, without any additive components required for cell recovery and culture process. The low-serum condition provides the researchers with a more controlled and defined system for the following high-throughput drug testing, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine research. 

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Schwann cells are a type of glial cell found in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). These cells are essential for the myelination of peripheral axons. There are two main types of Schwann cells: myelinating and non-myelinating.​

​Myelinating Schwann cells wrap around a single axon to form a myelin sheath, while non-myelinating Schwann cells support multiple small-diameter axons without forming myelin. In addition to their insulating role, Schwann cells are active participants in nerve development, maintenance, and repair. ​

​In pathological conditions such as peripheral neuropathies and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Schwann cell dysfunction contributes to disease progression, making them a target of interest for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, their regenerative potential is being explored in biomedical applications, including nerve grafts and tissue engineering.

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Media for the low-serum expansion of primary endothelial cells

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Podocytes are terminally differentiated highly specialized epithelial cells that lining the outer surface of the glomerular capillaries in kidney ^[1]. Podocytes together with the opposing monolayers of fenestrated endothelial cells in the vascular space and glomerular basement membrane (GBM) in between form the three-layer glomerular filtration barrier which functions as size-selective and charge-dependent molecular sieve for the main function of nephron. Podocytes injury, which is usually termed “foot process effacement” is a pathological process found in many kidney diseases ^[2]. In vitro cultured podocytes are useful model to study podocytes biology. These cells can also be used with glomerular endothelial cells for coculture studies in an attempt to better study barrier permeability or be cultured in Matrigel for three-dimensional or organoid studies^[3].

iXCells^® Podocytes Culture Medium is a complete medium uniquely designed to maintain primary podocyte growth in vitro. The cells maintain their cell specific markers as well as function for as long as 2-3 passages which makes it suitable for the following cell characterization and functional assays. The medium contains all the necessary nutrients that podocyte needs to grow and perform their function. The medium is provided as the antibiotics free complete culture medium supplemented with the working concentration of fetal bovine serum (FBS). No additional FBS is needed for cell culture.

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Glomerular podocytes in kidney are highly specialized visceral epithelial cells with a complex cytoarchitecture. These cells feature finger-like projections called “foot process” that interlock with each other, creating tiny gaps known as filtration slits that play a crucial role in filtering blood within the glomerulus ^[1,2]. Podocytes are involved in a variety of glomerular functions, including glomerular basement membrane turnover, maintenance of filtration barrier, support of the capillary tuft, regulation of glomerular filtration and immunological functions. Injury to podocytes may lead to proteinuria, a hallmark of most glomerular diseases and chronic kidney disease. Disruptions of podocyte architecture resulting in the retraction of foot processes and proteinuria are common features in the progression of acquired glomerular disease ^[3,4].

iXCells Biotechnologies offers high quality primary Human Podocytes isolated from human kidney obtained by following IRB protocol and cryopreserved at P2, with ≥ 0.5 million viable cells in each vial. These podocytes have been characterized by the proliferation, and the expression of cell type specific markers, including CD2AP, Nephrin, NPHS2, Podocin, Synaptopodin (Figure 1, 2). Human Podocytes are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi. These cells can be maintained in Podocyte Culture Medium (Cat# MD-0120) and expanded for 2~3 passages under conditions suggested by iXCells Biotechnologies. Further expansion may decrease podocyte particular traits such as foot processes and expression of slit diaphragm proteins.

Figure 1.Human Podocytes. The cells were recovered, and seeded at 10,000 cells/cm² following iXCells’ protocol.  Phase contrast images were taken at the indicated time post-recovery.

Figure 2. Immunofluorescence staining of Human Podocytes with antibodies against CD2AP, Nephrin, NPHS2, Podocin, Synaptopodin (Green), and Phalloidin (Red), separately. Nuclei were counterstained by DAPI (Blue).

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References

[1] Pavenstadt H., Kriz W., Kretzler M. Cell biology of the glomerular podocyte. Physiol Rev. 2003;83(1):253–307.

[2] Romagnani P., Remuzzi G., Glassock R. Chronic kidney disease. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17088.

[3] Patrakka J., Tryggvason K. New insights into the role of podocytes in proteinuria. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2009; 5(8):463–468.

[4] Levey A.S., Coresh J. Chronic kidney disease. Lancet. 2012;379(9811):165–180.

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GABAergic neurons are a type of neuron that produce gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that inhibits nerve transmission and reduces neuronal excitability mainly in hippocampus, thalamus, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, and brainstem ^[1]. The balance between inhibitory neuronal transmission via GABA and excitatory neuronal transmission via glutamate is essential for proper cell membrane stability and neurologic function in central nervous system (CNS). In GABAergic neurons, GABA is primarily synthesized from glutamate, a process catalyzed by glutamate decarboxylase (GAD). GAD, especially the CNS specific 67 kDa subtype GAD67, as well as vesicular GABA neurotransmitter transporter (vGAT) are commonly used cell specific markers for GABAergic neurons ^[2].

iXCells^® GABAergic Neuron Culture Medium is a complete medium uniquely designed to maintain GABAergic neuron growth in vitro and their functions, as measured by the expression of the cell type specific markers along with the electrophysiology activities. The medium is provided as the antibiotics free complete culture medium. No extra glutamine is needed for cell culture.

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