Cryobanking Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Cryopreservation and storage of culture-expanded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is essential for a biobank to maintain a collection of cell lines for research and clinical use. Optimization of cryopreservation protocols and methods to minimize damage to cells during freezing and thawing is critical to ensure reliable availability of viable cells. Controlling the freezing rate and the use of appropriate cryoprotectant, as well as stable storage temperature, can minimize the negative effects on cell viability.

Mammosphere formation in breast carcinoma cell lines depends upon expression of E-cadherin.

Tumors are heterogeneous at the cellular level where the ability to maintain tumor growth resides in discrete cell populations. Floating sphere-forming assays are broadly used to test stem cell activity in tissues, tumors and cell lines. Spheroids are originated from a small population of cells with stem cell features able to grow in suspension culture and behaving as tumorigenic in mice.

Association between Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis DNA in blood and cellular and humoral immune response in inflammatory bowel disease patients and controls.

Background: Similarities between human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ruminant paratuberculosis have fueled a heated discussion on the role of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in the etiology of IBD.

Methods: In order to determine microbiological and immunological evidence of an association between MAP and IBD, blood from 222 inflammatory bowel disease patients and 80 healthy donors from the Basque Country (Spain) were subjected to nested PCR for MAP-specific insertion sequence IS900, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) release test with PPA-3 MAP antigen (IFNMAP) or phosphate-buffered saline (IFNPBS), and antibody ELISA with PPA-3 MAP antigen (ABMAP).

On the prevalence of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis DNA in the blood of healthy individuals and patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Mycobacteria, such as M. leprae and M. tuberculosis infect billions of humans.