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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
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Isolation of Normal and Cancer-associated Fibroblasts from Fresh Tissues by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)
Published on: January 14, 2013
THE FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES OF THE FIBROBLAST AND THE MACROPHAGE : IV. THE MALIGNANT FIBROBLAST OF JENSEN SARCOMA
1Laboratories of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Researchers isolated malignant fibroblasts from Jensen rat sarcoma, finding they maintain malignancy in vitro and grow unlimitedly. Their unique properties, like liquefying rat plasma fibrin, may explain tumor growth, possibly due to enhanced enzyme activity.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Jensen sarcoma is a rat tumor model.
- Understanding the cellular basis of tumor growth is crucial for cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize the fibroblast cell line from Jensen rat sarcoma.
- To investigate the in vitro properties of these malignant fibroblasts.
- To explore potential mechanisms behind their unlimited proliferation.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of pure fibroblast strain from Jensen rat sarcoma.
- In vitro culture and observation of cell morphology and growth.
- Assessment of cell properties including fibrinolysis and nutrient utilization.
Main Results:
- Isolated fibroblasts retained malignancy in vitro for months.
- Malignant cells exhibited distinct morphology and unlimited proliferation.
- Cells liquefied rat plasma fibrin but not chicken plasma fibrin.
- Growth was supported by chick embryo juice, calf liver digest, and rat serum, enhanced by bone marrow.
Conclusions:
- Jensen sarcoma fibroblasts possess unique properties enabling sustained growth in vivo.
- The ability to utilize rat serum components may be key to their unlimited growth.
- Enhanced enzyme activity is a potential factor in their sustained malignancy.
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