HEI-OC1

The HEI-OC1 cell line, derived from the cochlea of the transgenic Immortomouse, represents a versatile model for studying auditory cell biology, particularly in the context of ototoxicity and protective mechanisms. HEI-OC1 cells are conditionally immortalized and exhibit characteristics of both sensory and supporting cells of the organ of Corti. These cells express various cochlear hair cell markers, including prestin, myosin 7a, and calbindin. As an in vitro model, HEI-OC1 has been applied to investigate the cellular responses to ototoxic drugs, such as aminoglycosides and cisplatin, which are known to induce hearing loss through apoptosis, ROS accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

HEI-OC1 cells have demonstrated utility in exploring protective strategies against ototoxic damage. For instance, studies have shown that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) can mitigate the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin by reducing apoptosis, excessive autophagy, and ROS accumulation. Additionally, the inhibition of ferroptosis, a type of iron-dependent cell death, has been found to protect HEI-OC1 cells from cisplatin-induced damage by preserving mitochondrial function. The application of glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone, has also been observed to protect HEI-OC1 cells from endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis by modulating the PERK-CHOP pathway. These findings support the role of HEI-OC1 cells as a valuable model for screening drugs for ototoxicity and investigating otoprotective interventions.

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.