The Use of Cell Lines in Medical Research Is Inevitable. What Are Cell Lines?
In simple terms, a cell line refers to cells that can be propagated through multiple generations. These cells are further categorized into finite cell lines, which have a limited number of passages, and infinite or immortalized cell lines, which can theoretically be subcultured
indefinitely.
There are numerous types of cell lines. Although our experiments may only involve one or two specific types, there are times when we need to look up information on other cell lines, assist newcomers, or explore new mechanisms in vitro, which might require finding new target cell lines.
At such times, the following methods for querying cell information can be very useful.
Each cell line has many distinct characteristics, including species origin, culture method, choice of medium, growth rate, selection of cryopreservation solution, and STR profiling (similar to an ID card) of the cell line, among others.
Where can you query this information? There's a cell line database available for free, with no ads, and no registration or login required. Some people joke: "Here you can find all the cell lines, but you may not be able to purchase them!"
Website: Cellosaurus
Taking A-549 cells as an example:
This site provides extremely comprehensive information, even detailing which companies sell the cell lines and linking directly to their official websites where you can see prices, etc. The interface is entirely in English, and you'll realize its immense power once you start searching. The screenshots I've provided barely scratch the surface of what's available, so I won't list everything here.
The database not only provides relevant information about the cell lines but also lists related literature for each cell line. We can trace back the literature from the information provided, exploring how others have used the cell line and which cellular technology-related papers they cited. Using the "traceback method," we can step by step find the information we need.
Someone might ask: "What if the information on this website is incorrect?"
I would say: We should use it as a tool to get a general idea, but ultimately, we need to verify the information in specific literature and through practical experimentation. For instance, by using the "traceback method" to find the original source of the literature, you can confirm whether the article actually used the cell line and choose high-quality articles as reference citations.
If you only want to know: What is the species origin of the cell line? Which medium should be used? Which cryopreservation solution is recommended?
These are relatively simple pieces of information but are crucial for specific experiments. (You might not want to sift through large amounts of information or translate text, especially since many species names in English are not commonly used and often require translation to understand.)
Here, I recommend using the "National Experimental Cell Resource Sharing Platform" to search for cell line information because the information provided is concise yet practical, and the platform covers a wide range of cell lines without requiring registration or login.
Website: National Experimental Cell Resource Sharing Platform
For example, searching for "MDCK" cells:
The information is truly minimal! But it's in Chinese, making it easy to quickly check on your phone when you need a quick overview.
This foreign website also does not require registration and is free to use. It provides a moderate amount of information and has a unique feature: it offers static and dynamic images of the cell growth process, which is highly recommended.
Website: Cell Bank NIBIOHN
Again, taking MDCK cells as an example:
It also includes references:
Most importantly, it provides images of various growth stages!
And it also contains various laboratory commonly used information.
With these three methods for querying cell line information, you're covered. There's no information you can't find, only cell lines you might not be able to purchase~