U87 cells are an important tool in biomedical research, particularly within the field of oncology. These cells provide a consistent and reproducible model system for investigating biological processes and testing potential therapies. They are widely adopted for advancing understanding of complex diseases, particularly brain cancer.
Understanding U87 Cells
U87 cells are a human glioblastoma cell line, established in 1966 at Uppsala University from a patient with glioblastoma. Formally known as U-87 MG, they exhibit an epithelial-like morphology and grow as adherent monolayers. They are characterized by rapid proliferation, with a population doubling time typically ranging from 18 to 38 hours.
As an immortalized cell culture, they can divide indefinitely under appropriate laboratory conditions. Genetically, U87 cells are hypodiploid, possessing a modal chromosome number of 44 in approximately 48% of the cell population, though higher ploidies can also occur. They carry specific genetic features, such as PTEN gene mutations, and exhibit genetic instability. Their size typically falls between 12 to 14 micrometers in diameter.
Contributions to Brain Cancer Research
U87 cells are extensively used in glioblastoma research as a model for studying this aggressive brain tumor. Researchers investigate cell proliferation (a hallmark of cancer) and cellular invasion, a process where tumor cells spread into surrounding healthy tissue. Studies have shown that U87 cells have a high migration ability compared to other glioblastoma cell lines.
They also contribute to understanding angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels that support tumor growth) and mechanisms of resistance to various treatments. For instance, U87 cells have been used in studies exploring the impact of microplastics on cancer progression, showing increased spheroid and colony formation with exposure. They are frequently employed in preclinical drug screening to test new therapeutic agents and evaluate the efficacy of radiation or chemotherapy on brain tumor cells. This includes assessing their response to drugs like temozolomide (TMZ).
Broader Applications in Medical Science
Beyond brain cancer research, U87 cells have diverse applications in medical science. They are used in general neuroscience research, contributing to studies on neural development and neuroinflammation, and can study the neural stem cell niche and the biology of brain tumors.
U87 cells also model how viruses interact with human brain cells, including research on oncolytic viruses (engineered to selectively infect and destroy cancer cells) and neurotropic viruses that affect the nervous system. Furthermore, they are valuable in gene therapy studies, serving as a model for gene delivery and expression in a human cell line. Stem cells, for instance, have been shown to deliver oncolytic adenovirus effectively in mice bearing intracranial U87 brain tumors, even when administered at distant sites.
Considerations for Research and Interpretation
While U87 cells are an invaluable research tool, their limitations as a model system must be acknowledged. They do not perfectly replicate the complex microenvironment of a human brain tumor in a living organism. The long-term culture of U87 cells over several decades can lead to changes in their genetic and biological features, and there have been instances of contamination or mix-ups in cell line repositories. For example, the commonly used version of U87MG from the ATCC was found to be non-identical to its patient of origin in 2016.
This highlights the importance of proper cell line authentication for research reproducibility and reliability. Findings from U87 cell studies often require further validation in more complex models, such as animal models or clinical trials, to confirm their relevance to human disease.