Short communication: pitfalls of culturing C8166 cells in serum-free media.
Long-term culture of C8166 cells in serum-free media can result in changes in their level of expression of immunologically important cell surface makers and a loss of infectivity by HIV-1. We have now demonstrated that these phenotypic changes are due to an outgrowth of a very small number of contaminating cells of mouse origin. Our observations emphasize the importance of carefully recharacterizing any cells that have been adapted to grow in a serum-free culture media.
Teo
Ian
I
Human Retrovirus Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W12 ONN, UK.
Choi
Ji-Won
JW
Buttigieg
Karen
K
Shaunak
Sunil
S
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free