Variability in APOE genotype status in human-derived cell lines: a cause for concern in cell culture studies?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Variability in APOE genotype status in human-derived cell lines: a cause for concern in cell culture studies?

AU - Schaffer, Sebastian

AU - Lam, Vanessa Y M

AU - Wolf, Insa

AU - Huebbe, Patricia

AU - Rimbach, Gerald

AU - Halliwell, Barry

N1 - Document Type: Editorial Material

PY - 2014/1/1

Y1 - 2014/1/1

N2 - Although cell culture studies have provided landmark discoveries in the basic and applied life sciences, it is often under-appreciated that cells grown in culture are prone to generating artifacts. Here, we introduce the genotype status (exemplified by apolipoprotein E) of human-derived cells as a further important parameter that requires attention in cell culture experiments. Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that variations from the main apolipoprotein E3/E3 genotype might alter the risk of developing chronic diseases, especially neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Whereas the apolipoprotein E allele distribution in human populations is well characterized, the apolipoprotein E genotype of human-derived cell lines is only rarely considered in interpreting cell culture data. However, we find that primary and immortalized human cell lines show substantial variation in their apolipoprotein E genotype status. We argue that the apolipoprotein E genotype status and corresponding gene expression level of human-derived cell lines should be considered to better avoid (or at least account for) inconsistencies in cell culture studies when different cell lines of the same tissue or organ are used and before extrapolating cell culture data to human physiology in health and disease.

AB - Although cell culture studies have provided landmark discoveries in the basic and applied life sciences, it is often under-appreciated that cells grown in culture are prone to generating artifacts. Here, we introduce the genotype status (exemplified by apolipoprotein E) of human-derived cells as a further important parameter that requires attention in cell culture experiments. Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that variations from the main apolipoprotein E3/E3 genotype might alter the risk of developing chronic diseases, especially neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Whereas the apolipoprotein E allele distribution in human populations is well characterized, the apolipoprotein E genotype of human-derived cell lines is only rarely considered in interpreting cell culture data. However, we find that primary and immortalized human cell lines show substantial variation in their apolipoprotein E genotype status. We argue that the apolipoprotein E genotype status and corresponding gene expression level of human-derived cell lines should be considered to better avoid (or at least account for) inconsistencies in cell culture studies when different cell lines of the same tissue or organ are used and before extrapolating cell culture data to human physiology in health and disease.

U2 - 10.1007/s12263-013-0364-4

DO - 10.1007/s12263-013-0364-4

M3 - Other (editorial matter etc.)

C2 - 24297645

VL - 9

SP - 364

JO - GENES NUTR

JF - GENES NUTR

SN - 1555-8932

IS - 1

ER -