SaOS-2

Saos-2 cells are an osteosarcoma cell line derived from the primary osteogenic sarcoma of an 11-year-old Caucasian female. These cells are a widely recognized model for studying osteosarcoma and bone biology, due to their osteoblastic characteristics and the ability to produce a bone-like extracellular matrix.

Characterized by their high level of alkaline phosphatase activity and expression of bone-specific proteins such as osteocalcin and osteopontin, Saos-2 cells serve as an effective in vitro system to study bone formation and the pathophysiology of osteosarcoma. They are particularly valuable for investigating cellular responses to various biochemical stimuli and mechanical forces that mimic the bone environment.

Saos-2 cells also exhibit an aneuploid karyotype, lacking several chromosomes but with extra copies of others, typical of many cancer cell lines. They are negative for mycoplasma and possess a robust capacity for calcification, making them suitable for assays related to mineral deposition.

In the context of cancer research, Saos-2 cells are extensively used to explore the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis, metastasis, and the effects of anticancer drugs on osteosarcoma. The cells are also employed to study gene expression profiles associated with osteoblastic differentiation and malignancy.

Due to their high transfectability, Saos-2 cells are amenable to genetic manipulation, which allows for the study of gene function and the validation of molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. This adaptability has facilitated significant advancements in understanding the genetic and molecular basis of bone cancer and in developing targeted treatments for osteosarcoma.

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.