Heterogeneity of the NIH3T3 Fibroblast Cell Line
The embryonic mouse fibroblast cell line NIH3T3 is widely used in life science research, including the study of cell cycle control and primary cilia. Fibroblasts are the most important cell type in connective tissue, as they produce components of the extracellular matrix and determine tissue archite...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/17/2677 |
| _version_ | 1797495996601597952 |
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| author | Amir Mohammad Rahimi Mingfang Cai Sigrid Hoyer-Fender |
| author_facet | Amir Mohammad Rahimi Mingfang Cai Sigrid Hoyer-Fender |
| author_sort | Amir Mohammad Rahimi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The embryonic mouse fibroblast cell line NIH3T3 is widely used in life science research, including the study of cell cycle control and primary cilia. Fibroblasts are the most important cell type in connective tissue, as they produce components of the extracellular matrix and determine tissue architecture. However, they are very heterogeneous and consist of subtypes specific to their organ of residence, among others. The NIH3T3 cell line was derived from whole mouse embryos that developed to pre-birth and is therefore most likely composed of different fibroblast subtypes. Furthermore, prolonged proliferation may have influenced their cellular composition. A heterogeneous cell population is unsuitable for any sophisticated research project. We found that the proportion of ciliated cells in the total NIH3T3 cell population was highly variable and asked whether this was a consequence of cellular heterogeneity and what molecular signatures were associated with it. We have established sub-cell lines by clonal expansion of single cells and characterized them morphologically and molecularly. Eventually, a myofibroblast-like and a fibroblast-like cell line were generated that differ in ciliation and proliferation. These homogeneous cell lines are valuable for a more detailed study of their molecular signatures, not least to uncover further the molecular pathways that contribute to the formation of the primary cilium. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:57:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5a698ddbe474af0924a031cb6affa4e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:57:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5a698ddbe474af0924a031cb6affa4e2023-11-23T12:55:02ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092022-08-011117267710.3390/cells11172677Heterogeneity of the NIH3T3 Fibroblast Cell LineAmir Mohammad Rahimi0Mingfang Cai1Sigrid Hoyer-Fender2Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute of Zoology and Anthropology—Developmental Biology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyJohann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute of Zoology and Anthropology—Developmental Biology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyJohann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute of Zoology and Anthropology—Developmental Biology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyThe embryonic mouse fibroblast cell line NIH3T3 is widely used in life science research, including the study of cell cycle control and primary cilia. Fibroblasts are the most important cell type in connective tissue, as they produce components of the extracellular matrix and determine tissue architecture. However, they are very heterogeneous and consist of subtypes specific to their organ of residence, among others. The NIH3T3 cell line was derived from whole mouse embryos that developed to pre-birth and is therefore most likely composed of different fibroblast subtypes. Furthermore, prolonged proliferation may have influenced their cellular composition. A heterogeneous cell population is unsuitable for any sophisticated research project. We found that the proportion of ciliated cells in the total NIH3T3 cell population was highly variable and asked whether this was a consequence of cellular heterogeneity and what molecular signatures were associated with it. We have established sub-cell lines by clonal expansion of single cells and characterized them morphologically and molecularly. Eventually, a myofibroblast-like and a fibroblast-like cell line were generated that differ in ciliation and proliferation. These homogeneous cell lines are valuable for a more detailed study of their molecular signatures, not least to uncover further the molecular pathways that contribute to the formation of the primary cilium.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/17/2677NIH3T3fibroblastsmyofibroblastsproliferationprimary cilia |
| spellingShingle | Amir Mohammad Rahimi Mingfang Cai Sigrid Hoyer-Fender Heterogeneity of the NIH3T3 Fibroblast Cell Line Cells NIH3T3 fibroblasts myofibroblasts proliferation primary cilia |
| title | Heterogeneity of the NIH3T3 Fibroblast Cell Line |
| title_full | Heterogeneity of the NIH3T3 Fibroblast Cell Line |
| title_fullStr | Heterogeneity of the NIH3T3 Fibroblast Cell Line |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heterogeneity of the NIH3T3 Fibroblast Cell Line |
| title_short | Heterogeneity of the NIH3T3 Fibroblast Cell Line |
| title_sort | heterogeneity of the nih3t3 fibroblast cell line |
| topic | NIH3T3 fibroblasts myofibroblasts proliferation primary cilia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/17/2677 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amirmohammadrahimi heterogeneityofthenih3t3fibroblastcellline AT mingfangcai heterogeneityofthenih3t3fibroblastcellline AT sigridhoyerfender heterogeneityofthenih3t3fibroblastcellline |