AMSBIO: 3D Cell Culture Proves Invaluable to Myelination Research

Hits:803   Date: 12/10/2019

AMSBIO reports on the pioneering research published** by scientists at Stanford University Medical School that has cited Mimetix® aligned 3D cell culture scaffold supplied by the company to understand the architecture of the myelin sheaths which insulate neuronal axons, so they can transmit electrical impulses quickly and efficiently.

Oligodendrocyte cells in the central nervous system can contact up to 50 axon segments per cell to form such myelin sheaths. Meng-Meng Fu of Stanford University and co-authors cultured oligodendrocytes in 3D in vitro on Mimetix® aligned 3D cell culture scaffolds from AMSBIO, showing that they contain satellite organelles called “Golgi Outposts”. These organize the complex architecture of microtubules to support the branching structure of myelin sheaths.
 

Oligodendrocyte cultured on Mimetix 3D microfibers for 14 days and stained against tubulin (image courtesy of Meng-Meng Fu, Stanford University Medical School) 

Postdoctoral research fellow - Meng-Meng Fu commented "The Mimetix 3D microfibers from AMSBIO have allowed us to understand the 3D shape of oligodendrocytes. This invaluable tool has yielded information that we would not have been able to acquire using traditional 2D cell culture platforms. Using 3D microfibers to culture mature oligodendrocytes for up to 2 weeks, we were able to measure myelin sheath length and number of sheaths per cell. In addition, we showed in our paper that these data were consistent with in vivo measurements taken from individual oligodendrocytes in the cortex." 

Mimetix® scaffolds mimic an extracellular matrix by providing an ideal architectural environment to support the growth of cells in 3D. They are created by electrospinning medical-grade polymer poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) into microfibres, which are highly consistent with regard to fibre diameter and pore size, resulting in excellent reproducibility of cell-based assays. Mimetix® aligned microfiber scaffolds provide a physical structure for the 3D culture of cells from tissues such as the central nervous system, skeletal muscle and heart where orientation influences cell growth and behavior. The Mimetix® scaffold is incorporated into standard SBS footprint well plate frames (12- and 96-well) with bases of superior optical clarity and minimal base distortion. The aligned scaffolds are thin enough to allow microscopic imaging.
 

Meng-Meng Fu, Stanford University Medical School
 

For further information on the Mimetix® 3D cell culture scaffold please visit http://www.amsbio.com/myelination-on-mimetix.aspx or contact AMSBIO now on +44-1235-828200 / +1-617-945-5033 or email info@amsbio.com.

Founded in 1987, AMS Biotechnology (AMSBIO) is recognized today as a leading transatlantic company contributing to the acceleration of discovery through the provision of cutting-edge life science technology, products and services for research and development in the medical, nutrition, cosmetics and energy industries. AMSBIO has in-depth expertise in extracellular matrices to provide elegant solutions for studying cell motility, migration, invasion and proliferation. This expertise in cell culture and the ECM allows AMSBIO to partner with clients in tailoring cell systems to enhance organoid and spheroid screening outcomes using a variety of 3D culture systems, including organ-on-a-chip microfluidics. 

 

or drug discovery research, AMSBIO offers assays, recombinant proteins and cell lines. Drawing upon a huge and comprehensive biorepository, AMSBIO is widely recognised as a leading provider of high-quality tissue specimens (including custom procurement) from both human and animal tissues. The company provides unique clinical grade products for stem cell and cell therapy applications these include high quality solutions for viral delivery (lentivirus, adenovirus and adeno-associated virus) in addition to GMP cryopreservation technology.

**  Fu, M. M., McAlear, T. S., Nguyen, H., Oses-Prieto, J. A., Valenzuela, A., Shi, R. D., ... & Barres, B. A. (2019). The Golgi Outpost Protein TPPP Nucleates Microtubules and Is Critical for Myelination. Cell, 179(1), 132-146 (online at https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(19)30913-4.pdf) with commentary at https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(19)30965-1.pdf

 

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