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Fibroblast sources: Where can we get them?

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Abstract

Fibroblasts are cells widely used in cell culture, both for transient primary cell culture or permanent as transformed cell lines. Lately, fibroblasts become cell sources for use in disease modeling after cell reprogramming because it is easily accessible in the body. Fibroblasts in patients will maintain all genetic background during reprogramming into induced pluripotent stem cells. In spite of their large use, fibroblasts are obtained after an invasive procedure, a superficial punch skin biopsy, collected under patient’s local anesthesia. Taking into consideration the minimum patient’s discomfort during and after the biopsy procedure, as well as the aesthetics aspect, it is essential to reflect on the best site of the body for the biopsy procedure combined with the success of getting robust fibroblast cultures in the lab. For this purpose, we compared the efficiency of four biopsy sites of the body (skin from eyelid, back of the ear, abdominal cesarean scar and groin). Cell proliferation assays and viability after cryopreservation were measured. Our results revealed that scar tissue provided fibroblasts with higher proliferative rates. Also, fibroblasts from scar tissues presented a higher viability after the thawing process.

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Acknowledgments

We are thankful for USP, UCSD and FAPESP for the financial support provided for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stem Cell Lab, Surgery Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, 87 Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Av, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil

    I. R. Fernandes, F. B. Russo, G. C. Pignatari, M. M. Evangelinellis, S. Tavolari & P. C. B. Beltrão-Braga

  2. Stem Cell Program, Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, MC 0695, USA

    A. R. Muotri

  3. Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapy (NETCEM), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, 455 Dr Arnaldo Av., São Paulo, 01246-903, Brazil

    I. R. Fernandes, F. B. Russo, G. C. Pignatari, M. M. Evangelinellis & P. C. B. Beltrão-Braga

  4. Obstetrics Department, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, 100 Arlindo Betio Av, São Paulo, 03828-100, Brazil

    P. C. B. Beltrão-Braga

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  1. I. R. Fernandes
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  2. F. B. Russo
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  3. G. C. Pignatari
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  4. M. M. Evangelinellis
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  5. S. Tavolari
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  6. A. R. Muotri
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  7. P. C. B. Beltrão-Braga
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Correspondence to P. C. B. Beltrão-Braga.

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Fernandes, I.R., Russo, F.B., Pignatari, G.C. et al. Fibroblast sources: Where can we get them?. Cytotechnology 68, 223–228 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-014-9771-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-014-9771-7

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