SK-N-SH

The SK-N-SH cell line is a human neuroblastoma model originally established from the bone marrow aspirate of a child with metastatic neuroblastoma. It is widely used in cancer research, particularly for studying neuronal differentiation, neuroblastoma biology, and therapeutic interventions. The cell line is notable for its heterogeneity and its ability to differentiate into neuronal-like and non-neuronal phenotypes under appropriate conditions, which closely mimics the cellular diversity observed in neuroblastoma tumors.

Chromosome analysis of SK-N-SH revealed a near-diploid karyotype with numerical and structural abnormalities. The line consistently displays trisomy of chromosome 7, along with translocations involving chromosomes 9 and 17. Specifically, a segment of chromosome 17 translocates to chromosome 22, resulting in partial trisomy of chromosome 17. Despite these alterations, SK-N-SH cells exhibit relatively stable karyotypic features compared to other neuroblastoma models, making them suitable for studying chromosomal aberrations in neuroblastoma.

Functionally, SK-N-SH cells possess neuronal properties and express neuroblastoma markers, including neurotransmitter synthesis enzymes, which are indicative of their neural crest origin. Importantly, SK-N-SH cells can be induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells with morphological and biochemical changes. Agents such as retinoic acid are commonly used to trigger this differentiation, resulting in increased neurite outgrowth and expression of neuronal markers. This property makes SK-N-SH a valuable tool for examining neuronal differentiation pathways, neurotoxicity, and neuroblastoma therapeutic targets.

SK-N-SH serves as a robust and versatile model for investigating neuroblastoma progression, neuronal differentiation, and therapeutic responses. Its karyotypic stability and ability to differentiate into neuronal phenotypes provide a platform for translational research into pediatric cancers and neuronal development.

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.