Cell Specification
Fibroblasts are mesenchymal cells which are derived from the embryonic mesoderm. They have been extensively used for a wide range of cellular and molecular studies. This is mainly because they are one of easiest types of cells to grow in culture, and their durability makes them amenable to a wide variety of manipulations ranging from studies employing gene transfection to microinjection. There is good evidence that fibroblasts in different parts of the body are intrinsically different [1]. The pulmonary arterial vesculature responds to various insults with a characteristic pattern of remodeling that includes an increase in connective tissue in the medial layer of the vessel wall [2]. One of the pathogenetic mechanisms involved is the functional derangements of vascular fibroblasts. Their proliferative response contributes to the adventitial thickening observed during the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension [3].

HPAF from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human pulmonary artery. HPAF are cryopreserved at first passage of primary culture and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 10⁵ cells in 1 ml volume. HPAF are characterized by spindle morphology and by immunofluorescent method with antibody to fibronectin. HPAF are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HPAF are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings at the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.

Recommended Medium
It is recommended to use Fibroblast Medium (FM, Cat. No. 2301) for the culturing of HPAF in vitro.

Product Use
HPAF are for research use only. It is not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.

Storage
Directly and immediately transfer cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen upon receiving and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until cell culture needed for experiments.

Shipping
Dry ice.

Reference
[1] Conrad, G. W., Hart, G. W., Chen, Y. (1977) Differences in vitro between fibroblast-like cells from cornea, heart, and skin of embryonic chicks. J. Cell Sci. 26:119-137.
[2] Pendurthi, U. R., Rao, L. V. M., Williams, J. T. and Idell, S. (1999) Regulation of tissue factor pathway inhibitor expression in smooth muscle cells. Blood 94:579-586.
[3] Das M, Dempsey EC, Reeves JT, Stenmark KR. (2004) Selective expansion of fibroblast subpopulations from pulmonary artery adventitia in response to hypoxia. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 282(5):L976-86.