A silver lining in cell line authentication: Short tandem repeat analysis of 1373 cases in China from 2010 to 2019. Issue 3 (14th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gu, Meijia; Yang, Meimei; He, Jing; Xia, Sixuan; Zhang, Zhe; Wang, Yudong; Zheng, Congyi; Shen, Chao
• Is Part Of: International journal of cancer. Volume 150:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 502
• Page End: 508
• Publication Date: 2021-09-14
• Subjects: cell line authentication -- cross‐contamination -- STR; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33789
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7136

Abstract

Abstract: Continuous cell lines are practical models that are widely used in the study of disease mechanisms and particularly cancers. However, the issue of cell line cross‐contamination has existed since the 1960s, despite repeated advocation for cell line authentication by many experts. Furthermore, cell line abuse has been underestimated and underreported. The China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) received 1373 cell samples for authentication from 2010 to 2019, and has found that the quality of cell lines has improved during this time, offering a positive outlook for the future. Abstract : What's new? Cell lines are critical tools in the study of cell growth, development, and pathogenesis. However, the misidentification and cross‐contamination of cell lines can lead to invalid findings. Here, the authors analyzed short tandem repeat data to assess the authenticity of human cell lines submitted to the China Center for Type Culture Collection from 2010 to 2019. Of the 1, 373 sample submissions, about 33.6 percent were misidentified, were a mix or two or more lines, or were not of human origin. The rate of false cell detection decreased over time, suggesting that the quality of human cell lines is improving.