SH-SY5Y

SH-SY5Y cells, a subclone derived from the neuroblastoma cancer cell line SK-N-SH, are a valuable cell model for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. The SK-N-SH cell line was established in 1970 from a biopsy of a metastatic bone tumor from a 4-year-old cancer patient. The human SH-SY5Y cell line offers a unique cell source for functional studies in neurobiology and neurodegenerative disease research.

SH-SY5Y cells grow both adherently and in suspension, forming clusters during division that differ significantly from the morphology of differentiated cells. These undifferentiated cells, before undergoing neuronal differentiation, serve as an essential foundation for neuroscientific studies.

The neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells, which transforms them into neuronal cell models resembling various functional neurons, is achieved through biochemical interconversion processes involving gradual serum deprivation, retinoic acid, neurotrophic factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and extracellular matrix proteins. This differentiation is crucial for studying neuronal markers and conducting neurotoxicology research, especially concerning the impact of organic pollutants on human neuron-like cells.

The neurobiology of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, primarily known for their dopaminergic characteristics, can be explored for cholinergic properties under specific differentiation conditions. While these cells may express acetylcholinesterase, indicative of some cholinergic activity, their utility in studying cholinergic neurotransmission is less pronounced compared to their role in dopaminergic system studies.

As a neurotoxicological model, the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line is instrumental in examining the effects of compounds on acetylcholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase activities, essential for neurotoxicology studies. The sy5y line's contribution to understanding the biochemical pathways involved in neurodegenerative diseases, coupled with its role in the functional studies of dopaminergic and cholinergic systems, underscores its value in neuroscience research.

37°C, 5% CO₂, humidified atmosphere.

1. Confirm that the vial remains deeply frozen upon delivery, as cells are shipped on dry ice to maintain optimal temperatures during transit.

2. Upon receipt, either store the cryovial immediately at temperatures below -150°C to ensure the preservation of cellular integrity, or proceed to step 3 if immediate culturing is required.

3. For immediate culturing, swiftly thaw the vial by immersing it in a 37°C water bath with clean water and an antimicrobial agent, agitating gently for 40-60 seconds until a small ice clump remains.

4. Perform all subsequent steps under sterile conditions in a flow hood, disinfecting the cryovial with 70% ethanol before opening.

5. Carefully open the disinfected vial and transfer the cell suspension into a 15 ml centrifuge tube containing 8 ml of room-temperature culture medium, mixing gently.

6. Centrifuge the mixture at 300 x g for 3 minutes to separate the cells and carefully discard the supernatant containing residual freezing medium.

7. Gently resuspend the cell pellet in 10 ml of fresh culture medium. For adherent cells, divide the suspension between two T25 culture flasks; for suspension cultures, transfer all the medium into one T25 flask to promote effective cell interaction and growth.

8. Adhere to established subculture protocols for continued growth and maintenance of the cell line, ensuring reliable experimental outcomes.

Mycoplasma contamination is excluded using both PCR-based assays and luminescence-based mycoplasma detection methods.

To ensure there is no bacterial, fungal, or yeast contamination, cell cultures are subjected to daily visual inspections.

For long-term preservation, place vials in vapor-phase liquid nitrogen at about −150 to −196 °C. Storage at −80 °C is acceptable only as a short interim step before transfer to liquid nitrogen.

Cryopreserved cell lines are shipped on dry ice in validated, insulated packaging with sufficient refrigerant to maintain approximately −78 °C throughout transit. On receipt, inspect the container immediately and transfer vials without delay to appropriate storage.

At Cytion, we stand behind the quality and viability of our products. We guarantee that our cells will be viable at the start of culture for 60 days after shipment from our facilities. We assure that all materials conform to the specifications described in the Certificate of Analysis and/or Product Sheet.

For full details, please refer to our Warranty Statement.