News from Kitos

Researchers from Harvard Medical School, USA, reported in "Nature Protocols" the characterization of a 3D culture system that exhibits key events in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis, including extracellular aggregation of β-amyloid and accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau.

In order to track individual cells in live-cell imaging, fluorescent DNA stains can be used as intracellular reference markers. Hoechst 33342 would be the best option to monitor cell proliferation in live-cell imaging since it is highly selective for DNA, fluorogenic in wash-free imaging and applicable in different cell types. However, Hoechst 33342 shows toxicity to live cells in long-term exposure because of the phototoxic effect of blue light required for its excitation.

Researchers of the University of Cambridge (UK) described, in the prestigious journal "Nature protocols", a method to grow human adult liver and pancreatic cells into self-assembling 3D structures that can sustain long-term expansion.