Genomic profiling (DNA Fingerprinting) for validation of human cells routinely used in cell culture for biomedical research

• Grant number: 11/23232-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Deilson Elgui de Oliveira
• Grantee: Natacha Azussa Migita
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Human and animal cell lines cultivated in vitro are simplified and informative experimental models widely used for biomedical research. Due to inadequate handling and labeling, misidentification and cross-contamination may be an issue in laboratories holding a number of cryopreserved and routinely cultivated cell lines. As a consequence, experimental data produced from unvalidated cell lines are unreliable. It is estimated that 18 to 36% of all studies using cell cultures published have this drawback. International quality control policies for biomedical experimentation require that methods for validation of cell lines must be performed on a regular basis. Currently, simple, cost-effective, and reliable protocols to validate cell lines are usually based on DNA fingerprinting, which consists of the analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms for genomic profiling. The aim of this study is to set up a DNA fingerprinting-based protocol for cell validation in the setting of an academic research laboratory. Furthermore, a database of the genomic profiles for the analyzed cell lines will be built up. Briefly, DNA extracted from available cell lines will be submitted to amplification by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of selected STRs. The genomic profiles produced will be compiled and publicly released online, so that interested research groups may use them to validate the analyzed cell lines in their own laboratories.(AU)