Serum‐reduced media impacts on cell viability and protein expression in human lung epithelial cells. Issue 6 (4th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rashid, Mahamud‐ur; Coombs, Kevin M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cellular physiology. Volume 234:Issue 6(2019:Jun.)
• Page Start: 7718
• Page End: 7724
• Publication Date: 2018-12-04
• Subjects: cellular protein expression -- Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) -- opti‐MEM -- serum starvation -- transfection; Physiology -- Periodicals; Cell physiology -- Periodicals; 571.6
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27890
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9541

Abstract

Abstract: Serum starvation is a widely used condition in molecular biology experiments. Opti‐MEM is a serum‐reduced media used during transfection of genetic molecules into mammalian cells. However, the impact of such media on cell viability and protein synthesis is unknown. A549 human lung epithelial cell viability and morphology were adversely affected by growing in Opti‐MEM. The cellular protein levels of chloride intracellular channel protein 1, proteasome subunit alpha Type 2, and heat shock 70 kDa protein 5 were dysregulated in A549 cells after growing in serum‐reduced media. Small interfering RNA transfection was done in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with 10% fetal bovine serum, and knockdown efficacy was determined compared with Opti‐MEM. Similar amounts of knockdown of the target proteins were achieved in DMEM, and cell viability was higher compared with Opti‐MEM after transfection. Careful consideration of the impact of Opti‐MEM media during the culture or transfection is important for experimental design and results interpretation. Abstract : Opti‐MEM is a serum‐reduced media used during the transfection of genetic molecules into mammalian cells. The media adversely affects cell morphology, viability, and protein synthesis in the human lung epithelial A549 cell. Complete media with regular amounts of fetal bovine serum show similar transfection efficacy but are less harmful to cell viability.