Vero cells gain renal tubule markers in low-calcium and magnesium
chemically defined media
Abstract
In this study, a chemically defined, animal component-free media was
developed to promote Vero growth in suspension. Key media compounds were
screened using Plackett-Burman styled experiments to create a media
formulation to support suspension growth. Vero cells remained viable in
suspension, but their growth rate was extremely low, conversely, other
cell types such as CHO-K1, MDCK and HEK293T were able to grow in single
cell suspension in the same media. To investigate the slow growth of
Vero cells, RNA-Seq analysis was conducted. Vero cells were cultured in
three different conditions: adherently in serum-containing medium,
adherently in in-house medium, and in suspension in low calcium and
magnesium in-house medium. This study illustrates that adherent cells
maintain similar gene expression, while the suspension phenotype tends
to overexpress genes related to renal tubules.