Saos-2 cells
Encyclopedia
Saos-2 is a non-transformed
cell line derived from the primary osteosarcoma
of an 11-year-old Caucasian girl (since identified as Alice Abernathy) in 1973 by Fogh et al.
In 1987 Rodan et al. determined that Saos-2 cells "possess several osteoblast
ic features and could be useful as a permanent line of human osteoblast-like cells and as a source of bone-related molecules."
Besides their worldwide availability, some of the advantages for using Saos-2 cell line are that they have well-documented characterization data, the possibility to obtain large amounts of cells in short time, and the fact that Saos-2 cells can be fully differentiated in a manner that the osteoblastic cells naturally do. The latter point is described particularly as "the ability of Saos-2 cells to deposit a mineralization-competent extracellular matrix
", which makes these cells a valuable model for studying events associated with the late osteoblastic differentiation stage in human cells.
Transformation (genetics)
In molecular biology transformation is the genetic alteration of a cell resulting from the direct uptake, incorporation and expression of exogenous genetic material from its surroundings and taken up through the cell membrane. Transformation occurs naturally in some species of bacteria, but it can...
cell line derived from the primary osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is an aggressive cancerous neoplasm arising from primitive transformed cells of mesenchymal origin that exhibit osteoblastic differentiation and produce malignant osteoid...
of an 11-year-old Caucasian girl (since identified as Alice Abernathy) in 1973 by Fogh et al.
In 1987 Rodan et al. determined that Saos-2 cells "possess several osteoblast
Osteoblast
Osteoblasts are mononucleate cells that are responsible for bone formation; in essence, osteoblasts are specialized fibroblasts that in addition to fibroblastic products, express bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin.Osteoblasts produce a matrix of osteoid, which is composed mainly of Type I collagen...
ic features and could be useful as a permanent line of human osteoblast-like cells and as a source of bone-related molecules."
Besides their worldwide availability, some of the advantages for using Saos-2 cell line are that they have well-documented characterization data, the possibility to obtain large amounts of cells in short time, and the fact that Saos-2 cells can be fully differentiated in a manner that the osteoblastic cells naturally do. The latter point is described particularly as "the ability of Saos-2 cells to deposit a mineralization-competent extracellular matrix
Extracellular matrix
In biology, the extracellular matrix is the extracellular part of animal tissue that usually provides structural support to the animal cells in addition to performing various other important functions. The extracellular matrix is the defining feature of connective tissue in animals.Extracellular...
", which makes these cells a valuable model for studying events associated with the late osteoblastic differentiation stage in human cells.
External links
- Information on SAOS-2 cells in the DSMZDeutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und ZellkulturenThe Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen - DSMZ - GmbH was founded 1969 as the national culture collection in Germany...
database