Primary Human Pericytes and Pericyte Growth Media

These products are available in the US, Canada, and select European countries.

Pericyte Cell Culture System

Pericytes are multipotent mesenchymal-like cells found in association with the walls of small blood vessels. They are important for angiogenesis, for the structural integrity of the microvasculature, and for the regulation of blood flow. However, they can also develop into malignant tumors called hemangiopericytomas. To date, these cells have demonstrated the ability to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and phagocytes (macrophages).

PromoCell^® Pericytes are derived from normal human placenta. Shortly after isolation, all Pericytes are cryopreserved at passage 2 (P2) using proprietary, serum-free freezing medium, Cryo-SFM. Each cryovial contains at least 500,000 viable pericytes after thawing. Human pericytes from placenta are also available as proliferating cell cultures generated from cryopreserved cells that have been thawed and cultured for three days.

Cultivation Protocol for Human Pericytes from Placenta

Pericyte Growth Medium was developed for the in vitro cultivation of human pericytes from all tissues. The Pericyte Growth Medium consists of a 500 mL bottle of Basal Medium and one vial of SupplementMix. Adding the SupplementMix to the Basal Medium constitutes the complete Growth Medium.

Pericyte Growth Medium Supplementation Details

Pericyte Growth Medium contains all components necessary for the optimal growth of human pericytes. Pericyte Growth Medium does not contain antibiotics or antimycotics and is formulated for the use in an incubator with an atmosphere of 5% CO₂.

Preparing Supplemented Media for Pericytes

• Thaw the Pericyte Growth Medium SupplementMix at 15 – 25 °C.
• Aseptically mix the supplement solutions by carefully pipetting up and down.
• Transfer the entire contents of each supplement to the Pericyte Basal Medium.
• Close the bottle and swirl gently to achieve a homogeneous mixture.

Storage and Stability of Pericyte Products

• Upon arrival, immediately store the Pericyte Basal Medium at 4 – 8 °C in the dark and the Pericyte Growth Medium SupplementMix at -20 °C. Do not freeze the Pericyte Basal Medium.
• If stored as directed, the products are stable until the expiration date on the label.
• Once supplements are added to the Pericyte Basal Medium, the shelf life of the complete medium is six weeks at 4 – 8 °C. Do not freeze the complete medium.
• For use, aliquot and prewarm a single-use volume only of the complete Pericyte Growth Medium and maintain the remaining medium stock refrigerated at 4 – 8 °C.
• After delivery, cryopreserved cells should be stored in liquid nitrogen or seeded directly.
• Proliferating cells must be processed immediately.

Pericyte Culture System Quality Control

Human Pericytes from Placenta Quality Control

Rigid quality control tests are performed for each lot of PromoCell® Pericytes.

• Tested for morphology, adherence rate, and viability.
• Flow cytometric analysis for a comprehensive panel of markers such as CD31, CD34, CD105, and CD146 are performed for each lot.
• Tested for the absence of HIV-1, HIV-2, HBV, HCV, and microbial contaminants (fungi, bacteria, and mycoplasma).
• A detailed certificate of analysis (CoA) for each lot is available for download.

Human Pericytes Specifications

Pericyte Growth Medium Quality Control

All lots of PromoCell^® Pericyte Growth Medium are subjected to comprehensive quality control tests using primary human placenta-derived pericytes. Each lot is checked for growth promoting activity, adherence rate, and typical morphology of the tested pericytes. Approved in-house lots of media are used as a reference. In addition, all lots of media have been tested for the absence of microbial contaminants (fungi, bacteria, mycoplasma).

Intended Use of Primary Pericytes

These products are for in vitro use only and not for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. For safety precautions please see appropriate MSDS.

Note: Due to their low serum content or the absence of serum, PromoCell^® media are not suitable for trypsin neutralization (when subculturing the cells). Instead we recommend using our DetachKit (C-41200, C-41210, C-41220), which contains HEPES BSS, Trypsin/EDTA and Trypsin Neutralizing Solution.