SW 1088

The SW1088 cell line is a human glioma-derived line established from a tumor biopsy of the cerebral cortex. It is classified histologically as an astrocytoma and was originally reported in a study of tumorigenic human cell lines capable of forming tumors in nude mice. In that context, SW1088 was shown to form solid tumors when inoculated subcutaneously into immunodeficient hosts, although tumor development required longer latency periods compared to more aggressive glioblastoma cell lines. This suggests a relatively less proliferative or less aggressive phenotype in vivo.

SW1088 cells exhibit characteristics consistent with astrocytic origin and are commonly used in neuro-oncology research to model lower-grade gliomas. Their slower in vivo tumorigenicity compared to high-grade glioblastoma models such as U87MG or U251 reflects biological features relevant to astrocytoma pathology. Genomic and transcriptomic profiling of SW1088 has contributed to understanding molecular differences among glioma subtypes. However, these cells may not fully recapitulate the high-grade glioma phenotype due to their lower proliferation and reduced capacity for rapid tumor formation, making them a more suitable model for studying earlier-stage or less aggressive gliomas.

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.