Culture of Immortalized Cells: Culture of Specialized Cells

Culture of Immortalized Cells

Edited by R. Ian Freshney and Mary G. Freshney

The ability to develop immortalized cells in vitro is a powerful tool for the biological investigator. Most cells can only be reproduced unchanged for a limited number of cell generations before the initial cell lines die. The immortalization of cells establishes continuous cell lines, playing an important role in the study of the biology of cell growth, differentiation, and senescence. It also increases our understanding of aberrations in proliferative and positional control in malignant cells.

Culture of Immortalized Cells provides the most up-to-date in vitro methods and safety procedures for the immortalization of primary cultures of various cell types. Coedited by one of the leading figures in the field, R. Ian Freshney, author of Culture of Animal Cells, Third Edition, Culture of Immortalized Cells is the latest volume in the critically acclaimed Culture of Specialized Cells Series. Preceding volumes in the series include Culture of Epithelial Cells and Culture of Hematopoietic Cells.

In this comprehensive handbook, leading experts offer the most current methods for the immortalization of cells, as well as specific guidelines for the immortalization of kidney, and thyroid epithelia, hepatocytes, fibroblasts, chondrocytes, lymphocytes, astrocytes, and human umbilical vein endothelium. Each method is accompanied by:

• Step-by-step protocols
• Detailed instructions for reagent preparation
• Current information on the latest specialized equipment and supplies

This concise bench-top manual is essential for any laboratory involved in establishing continuous cell lines from primary cultures. Investigators, laboratory technical staff, and students in cell biology, immunology, hematology, cancer biology, toxicology, and molecular biology, will find this contemporary guide indispensable to their research.