Fetal bovine serum, an important factor affecting the reproducibility of cell experiments

Liu, Shuai1; Yang, Wei2,3; Li, Yunlei4; Sun, Changqing1

2023-02-02

10.1038/s41598-023-29060-7

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS   Impact Factor & Quartile

2045-2322

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is a natural medium used in cell cultures containing the large amount of nutrients necessary for cell growth and is often used for in vitro cultures of animal cells. Although FBS plays a vital role in cell cultures, there are small molecules contained within FBS that remain unidentified, and their effects on cultured cells is poorly understood. Here, we report that different brands of FBS have varying influences on the background expression of IL-8, not TNF alpha and IL1 beta in epithelial cells. The endogenous small molecules in FBS and ERK pathways may contribute to these effects. In addition, FBS form the IL-8 stimulation and IL-8 non-responsive groups have different metabolome profiles. Overall, our study suggests that metabolites in FBS should be included in the quantitative considerations when conducting cell experiments, especially immune-related experiments, to improve the repeatability of experimental results in scientific papers; IL-8 could thus be an important factor in selecting FBS.

SCI

English

Corresponding

Key Project~of Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation[2020B1515120091] ; Project~of Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation[2020A1515111185]

Science & Technology - Other Topics

Multidisciplinary Sciences

WOS:000985266900025

NATURE PORTFOLIO

Web of Science

1.Shenzhen Fourth Peoples Hosp, Shenzhen Samii Int Med Ctr, Dept Lab, Shenzhen 518118, Peoples R China
2.Jinan Univ, Clin Med Coll 2, Shenzhen Peoples Hosp, Inst Biomed Engn, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, Peoples R China
3.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Affiliated Hosp 1, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong, Peoples R China
4.Guangzhou Univ Chinese Med, Shenzhen Tradit Chinese Med Hosp, Clin Med Coll 4, Dept Clin Lab, Shenzhen 518033, Peoples R China

Liu, Shuai,Yang, Wei,Li, Yunlei,et al. Fetal bovine serum, an important factor affecting the reproducibility of cell experiments[J]. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS,2023,13(1).

Liu, Shuai,Yang, Wei,Li, Yunlei,&Sun, Changqing.(2023).Fetal bovine serum, an important factor affecting the reproducibility of cell experiments.SCIENTIFIC REPORTS,13(1).

Liu, Shuai,et al."Fetal bovine serum, an important factor affecting the reproducibility of cell experiments".SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 13.1(2023).