Presence of xenogenic mouse RNA in RPE and IPE cells cultured on mitotically inhibited 3T3 fibroblasts.

Purpose: Mitotically inhibited 3T3 fibroblasts are used as feeder layers to culture a variety of cells. However, transplantation of human cells cultured on mitotically arrested mouse cells poses potential risks, such as disease transfer and contamination with 3T3 cells. Bovine RPE and IPE cells were cultured on mitomycin-treated 3T3 fibroblasts, to examine cell characteristics and contamination by 3T3 products.

Prediction of successful weight reduction under sibutramine therapy through genotyping of the G-protein beta3 subunit gene (GNB3) C825T polymorphism.

Background: Sibutramine, a centrally acting noradrenaline and serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, enhances satiety and is frequently used to support weight loss. However, a significant variability exists among individuals concerning the response to sibutramine.

Methods: We genotyped 111 participants of a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial for the GNB3 C825T polymorphism and analysed associations of genotypes with treatment outcome.