Cell assays problems

Mattes, M. J. Apoptosis assays with lymphoma cell lines problems and pitfalls. Br. J. Cancer 2007, 96, 928-936. 

It is well known that arsenic is one of the most dangerous elements in terms of its potential impacts to both to human and ecosystem health. Therefore the problem of As detection at ppb level remains very important from the point of environmental hazard investigation. The goal of the present work is the developing of very simple and inexpensive assay for arsenite and arsenate determination in environmental samples using whole-cell bacterial biosensors. 

Another major second messenger in cells is calcium ion. Virtually any mammalian cell line can be used to measure transient calcium currents in fluorescence assays when cells are preloaded with an indicator dye that allows monitoring of changes in cytosolic calcium concentration. These responses can be observed in real time, but a characteristic of these responses is that they are transient. This may lead to problems with hemi-equilibria in antagonist studies whereby the maximal responses to agonists may be depressed in the presence of antagonists. These effects are discussed more fully in Chapter 6. 

White blood cells, red blood cells and cultured fibroblasts are commonly used to measure enzyme activities, especially for the diagnosis of inherited enzyme abnormalities. Leukocytes may be collected by sedimentation in viscous media such as Fycol. The collection of red cells presents no problem following centrifugation of anticoagulated blood. The assay of enzymes and fibroblasts requires appropriate tissue culture facilities and extensive experience in dealing with cultured human cells. 

Schechtman LM (1985) BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation protocols, problems and improvements. In Kakunaga T, Yamasaki H (eds) Transformation assay of established cell lines mechanisms and application. IARC Scientific Publications 67, Lyon, pp 165-181... 

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