Long-term growth comparison studies of FBS and FBS alternatives in six head and neck cell lines

Abstract

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is depended upon by investigators as an indispensable supplement in cell and tissue culture systems. Due to increased demand and limited availability, the price of FBS has increased by greater than 300% in the past few years. In addition, there are ethical and scientific controversies about the collection and use of FBS in culture systems. In response to the shortage of FBS, many FBS alternative serum products have been developed. Although many have claimed comparable performance to FBS, their support of long-term cell growth and effects on cell phenotype have not been revealed. In this study, we examined the performances of six bovine calf serum-based FBS alternatives in six head and neck cell lines and compared them with FBS. The results indicate that some of these sera had growth promoting capabilities comparable or superior to that of FBS. Additionally, these alternative sera supported long-term (30 passages) growth of tested cells and exhibited plating efficiencies comparable to that of FBS. Cells cultured in alternative sera also exhibited comparable anchorage-independent growth and similar drug inhibition responses in FBS. Still, caution should be taken in choosing suitable sera given that changes in cell morphology and variations in chemotactic responses were noted for cells maintained in certain sera. These FBS alternatives are more readily available, cost less, and are associated with less ethical concerns, thus making them attractive alternatives to FBS in cell culture systems.

Determining Conditions for Successful Culture of Multi-Cellular 3D Tumour Spheroids to Investigate the Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Breast Cancer Cell Invasiveness

“…FBS works by providing a broad spectrum of proteins such as hormones and growth factors, carriers, or chelators for labile or water-insoluble nutrients. However, supplementing media with serum or serum-derived components can cause variation in cell morphology, proliferation, and chemotactic responses [15]. Different sera comprise of a large number of growth-mediating constituents, some that are often undefined and/or unquantified, and as well as positive growth-mediators, sera can also include contaminants and viruses which may negatively regulate growth [15].…”

“…However, supplementing media with serum or serum-derived components can cause variation in cell morphology, proliferation, and chemotactic responses [15]. Different sera comprise of a large number of growth-mediating constituents, some that are often undefined and/or unquantified, and as well as positive growth-mediators, sera can also include contaminants and viruses which may negatively regulate growth [15]. Despite moves to stop the use of FBS in cell culture in line with scientific, safety, and ethical grounds, animal-derived serum remains an extremely common feature of cell culture methods due to its lower cost and ease of availability.…”

Heat‐inactivated coelomic fluid of the earthworm Perionyx excavatus is a possible alternative source for fetal bovine serum in animal cell culture

“…In the current scenario, researchers are looking for alternative supplements for FBS to culture the animal cells, because of the following reasons: (a) Ethical and inhumane issue while harvests serum from bovine fetuses . (b) Expensive by the rise in price up to 300% in the past few years due to high demand and lower supply . (c) Scientific concern due to batchwise result variation that occurs due to concentration variation in serum components .…”

“…2,3 (b) Expensive by the rise in price up to 300% in the past few years due to high demand and lower supply. 4 (c) Scientific concern due to batchwise result variation that occurs due to concentration variation in serum components. 5 The higher complex nature of serum-based media is difficult to replace with serum-free media, but it is scientifically validated and accepted.…”

Non-pooled Human Platelet Lysate: A Potential Serum Alternative for In Vitro Cell Culture

“…ABS is another suitable alternative for use as a xeno-free protein supplement in cell culture medium, but its potential for widespread use is reduced by the limited volumes produced. 6 In contrast to a number of existing studies, 1,10,19,20,[23][24][25][26] in which hPL was generally used as pooled hPL, the main goal of this study was to investigate the suitability of non-pooled hPL from individual blood samples, for use as a serum alternative with specific potential for use in personalised medicine.…”