Cell survival and growth

It has been recognized that certain cells have a specific requirement for an amino acid, for example, serine for lymphoblastoid cells (Birch and Hopkins, 1977). This may be due either to the inability of the cells to make an amino acid, or because the amino acid is decomposed in the medium. The concentration of amino acids usually limits the maximum cell concentration attainable, influences cell survival and growth rate, and can affect the synthesis of certain proteins. A too low concentration of an amino acid can result in rapid depletion from the medium, and is thus limiting, whereas a too high concentration can be inhibitory. 

Miyazaki T, Pan Y, Joshi K, Purohit D, Hu B, Demir H, Mazumdea- S, Okabe S, Yamori T, Viapiano M, Shin-ya K, Seimiya H, Nakano I. Telomestatin impairs glioma stem cell survival and growth through the disruption of telomeric G-quadruplex and inhibition of the proto-oncogene, c-Myb. Clin Cancer Res. 2012 18 1268-80. 

Yan, F., Cao, H., Cover, T.L., et al. (2007) Soluble proteins produced by probiotic bacteria regulate intestinal epithelial cell survival and growth. Gastroenterology 132, 562-575. 

The most important survival and growth factor for mast cells is the KIT Ugand stem cell factor (SCF) [12], The hypothesis of early studies, that SCF might be elevated in skin lesions associated with mastocytosis [13], however, was not confirmed by later studies on SCF levels in skin and blood, at least for adult patients [14],... 

Bagli E, Stefaniotou M, Morbidelli L, Ziche M, Psillas K, Murphy C and Fotsis T. 2004. Luteolin inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis inhibition of endothelial cell survival and proliferation by targeting phosphatidylinositol 3 -kinase activity. Cancer Res 64(21) 7936-7946. 

Neurotrophic factors promote both cell survival and axon growth after adult central nervous system injury in-vivo 524... 

Living cells are open self-sustained systems that continuously exchange energy and matter with their outside world, allowing them to maintain internal order and to synthesize the building blocks that are necessary for survival and growth [1]. 

Nor JE, Christensen J, Mooney DJ, Polverini PJ. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis is associated with enhanced endothelial cell survival and induction of Bcl-2 expression. Am J Pathol 1999 154(2) 375-384. 

Tumor suppressor gene—Gene that blocks the survival and growth of cancer cells. 

The process of racemization is important in the survival and growth of living cells and is catalyzed by a group of enzymes called racemases. Alanine racemase. for example, is able to convert n-alanine to DL-alanine if a suitable alpha keto acid is also present. In this reaction the asymmetry of the alpha-carbon atom of alanine is lost as the amino acid is converted to the keto acid and back. This process is analogous to the well-known process of transamination in which racemization seldom occurs. 

Cell culture systems must provide the physiological conditions for cell survival and proliferation. In vitro, animal cell growth is dependent on several factors, such as pH, temperature, osmolality, gas concentration (oxygen and CO2), available surface substrata, and state of the cells at inoculation (Freshney, 2005). Other factors that impact the culture are medium composition, which can differ extensively between cell lines and is discussed in detail in Chapter 5, as well as susceptibility to hydrodynamic stress, as discussed in Chapter 7. 

Medium composition is one of the most important factors in the culture of animal cells. Its function is to provide appropriate pH and osmolality for cell survival and multiplication, as well as to supply all chemical substances required by the cells that they are unable to synthesize themselves. Some of these substances can be provided by a culture medium consisting of low molecular weight compounds, known as basal media. However, most basal media fail to promote successful cell growth by themselves and require supplementation with more complex and chemically undefined additives such as blood serum. 

Cells survive and proliferate according to the addition of appropriate amounts of nutrients and growth factors, which are provided by the culture media. When these requirements are not met, cells die. The availability of nutrients and growth factors is considered the most significant factor influencing the biological activity of cells. The lack or depletion... 

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