FibroGRO^®-LS Complete Media Kit for Culture of Human Fibroblasts

This guide outlines our comprehensive selection of stem cells, media, supplements, growth factors, cultureware, and tools for stem cell characterization. These proven solutions cover a broad spectrum of stem cell and specialty cell culture areas and are backed by our knowledgeable technical support.

"The successful, reliable culture of epithelial cells is critical for many areas of research, including dermatology, respiratory research, and cancer research. Because the breakdown of control mechanisms in epithelial cells is a frequent contributor to cancer progression and metastasis, epithelial cell culture is particularly important for cancer research. EpiGRO™ media formulations are optimized to provide better viability, proliferation rates, morphology and culture stability than other commercially available options. The media are provided in unique, light-blocking, temperature-monitored packaging to ensure stability and protect the media from damage by light, contamination, and excessive heat. The media do not require or contain any antimicrobials or phenol red. These components can cause cell stress and influence experimental results by masking the true performance or health of the cell culture. Phenol red acts like an estrogen and may stimulate growth independently of experimental variables. "

Millipore’s new STEMCCA lentivirus reprogramming kits make it easier than ever to generate induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Unlike traditional iPS generation which requires simultaneous co-infection by four separate expression vectors, the STEMCCA kits use a single polycistronic lentiviral vector to improve efficiency and reduce the number of viral integrations. The STEMCCA vector is comprised of the transcription factors Oct-4, Klf4, SOX-2, and c-Myc (OKSM), separated by the self-cleaving 2A peptide and IRES sequences 1,2. It is also available with flanking LoxP sites incorporated for Cre-mediated excision of the exogenous reprogramming transgenes. STEMCCA Vector Advantages: (1) Efficient: uses a single vector with four transcription factors rather than co-transducing four separate expression vectors (2) Minimizes viral integrations: single vector reduces the risks of insertional mutagenesis and viral reactivation and (3) Excisable: Cre/LoxP-regulated version enables removal of reprogramming transgenes.

Dual SMAD inhibition is a well-established method to derive neural progenitor cells from both human ES and iPS cells. This protocol uses two SMAD inhibitors, Noggin and SB431542, to drive the rapid differentiation of ES/iPS cells into a highly enriched population of NPCs. Noggin acts as a BMP inhibitor and SB431542 inhibits the Lefty/Activin/TGFβ pathways by blocking the phosphorylation of ALK4, ALK5, and ALK7 receptors. In an effort to make a more defined and optimized neuronal differentiation protocol, Li and colleagues modified the original protocol to establish a completely small molecule-based differentiation method, which relies on three small molecules to inhibit GSK-3β (CHIR99021), TGFβ (SB431542), and Notch (compound E) signaling pathways, along with human LIF3. This new small molecule-based neural differentiation protocol increased neural differentiation kinetics and allowed the derivation of truly multipotent neural stem cells that respond to regional patterning cues specifying forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain neural and glial subtypes.