Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
09:50
Fibroblast Derived Human Engineered Connective Tissue for Screening Applications
Published on: August 20, 2021
ACTION OF SHAKEN SERUM ON HOMOLOGOUS FIBROBLASTS
1Laboratories of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Shaking serum alters its properties, affecting fibroblast activity differently based on serum type. Chicken serum becomes more inhibitory to chicken fibroblasts, while dog serum becomes less so.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Serum contains factors influencing cell activity, including homologous and heterologous fibroblasts.
- Serum's lytic activity on erythrocytes is attributed to alexin, which can be inactivated by physical and chemical treatments.
- Previous studies suggest serum composition changes due to factors like heat and senescence can alter its effect on cell growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of inactivating serum by shaking on the activity of homologous and heterologous fibroblasts.
- To compare the effects of shaken serum with normal serum on fibroblast proliferation and activity.
- To explore the relationship between serum's lytic properties and its influence on fibroblast behavior.
Main Methods:
- Partial or complete inactivation of chicken and dog sera by mechanical shaking.
- Assessing the hemolytic activity of shaken sera on sheep erythrocytes.
- Evaluating the effect of normal and shaken sera on the activity of homologous (chicken) and heterologous (chicken) fibroblasts.
Main Results:
- Shaking generally decreased the hemolytic activity of sera, indicating partial or complete alexin inactivation.
- Shaken serum exhibited increased inhibition of homologous fibroblast activity, particularly when completely inactivated.
- Partially inactivated dog serum showed reduced toxicity towards chicken fibroblasts compared to normal serum.
- Serum derived from blood, compared to serum from plasma, supported more extensive homologous fibroblast growth.
Conclusions:
- Serum inactivation by shaking alters its properties, leading to differential effects on homologous and heterologous fibroblasts.
- The changes in fibroblast activity correlate with alterations in serum's lytic potential, suggesting a role for alexin and other labile factors.
- Specific serum types (e.g., chicken vs. dog) exhibit distinct responses to inactivation, highlighting the complexity of serum-cell interactions.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Introduction to Fibroblasts
Rudolph Virchow discovered spindle-shaped cells called fibroblasts in 1858. Inactive fibroblasts, called fibrocytes, become activated by various stimuli, such as growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. Activated fibroblasts play a crucial role in wound healing, inflammation, formation of new blood vessels, and cancer progression. Uncontrolled activation of fibroblasts results in fibrosis, the excess deposition of fibrous tissue, which can lead to scarring and affect normal organs. This...
01:32Tissue Homogenization and Cell Lysis
Tissue homogenization involves disintegrating tissue architecture and lysing cells, and is an early step in isolating and analyzing cellular components. The method used for homogenization depends on the sample type, the amount of sample available, the analyte to be obtained, and the sensitivity of the method. These methods are broadly classified as mechanical and non-mechanical methods.
Mechanical methods of tissue homogenization
These methods rely on applying external physical force to disrupt...
Mechanical methods of tissue homogenization
These methods rely on applying external physical force to disrupt...