Cobblestone Area-forming Cells
Cobblestone Area-forming Cells - Related Videos
12:17
Isolation and Large Scale Expansion of Adult Human Endothelial Colony Forming Progenitor Cells
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Cited by 38 •
2009
Endothelial colony forming progenitor cells (ECFCs) are a promising tool to study vascular homeostasis and repair.1,2 This paper introduces a novel animal-serum free method for isolation and expansion of ECFC from heparinised adult human peripheral blood with pooled human platelet lysate (pHPL) diminishing the risk of anti-bovine immunisation.
09:24
Three-dimensional Angiogenesis Assay System using Co-culture Spheroids Formed by Endothelial Colony Forming Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells
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Cited by 14 •
2019
Three-dimensional co-culture spheroid angiogenesis assay system is designed to mimic the physiologic angiogenesis. Co-culture spheroids are formed by two human vascular cell precursors, ECFCs and MSCs, and embedded in collagen gel. The new system is effective for evaluating angiogenic modulators, and provides more relevant information to the in vivo study.
11:30
Colony Forming Cell (CFC) Assay for Human Hematopoietic Cells
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Cited by 43 •
2010
The colony forming cell (CFC) assay is an in vitro assay in which hematopoietic progenitors form colonies in a semi-solid medium. A combination of colony morphology, cell morphology, and flow cytometry are used to assess the ability of the progenitors to proliferate and differentiate along the different hematopoietic lineages.
04:51
Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells form Mammospheres During Lactogenic Differentiation
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Cited by 12 •
2009
HC11 lactogenic differentiation can be characterized by the formation of domed structures referred to as mammospheres. The structures can be enumerated by phase contrast microscopy to aid in quantifying lactogenic differentiation.
13:46
Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of Endothelial Colony Forming Cells Derived from Human Umbilical Cord Blood
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Cited by 46 •
2012
Endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) are circulating endothelial cells with robust clonal proliferative potential that display intrinsic in vivo vessel forming ability. Phenotypic and functional characterization of outgrowth endothelial cells derived from CB are important to identify and isolate bona fide ECFCs for potential clinical application in repairing damaged tissues.
FAQs
Supportive stromal cells provide two complementary signals: physical cell-cell contact and secreted growth factors. Progenitor cells adhere to or migrate beneath the stromal layer, creating a local environment that promotes survival, self-renewal, and blood-cell production. This combined support allows the assay to reflect progenitor behavior under conditions that preserve hematopoietic activity.
The assay measures what progenitor cells can do rather than simply identifying their presence. Formation of distinctive colonies beneath the stromal layer indicates that cells survived, interacted with support cells, and retained activity associated with self-renewal or blood-cell production. Counting these colonies therefore provides a functional assessment of hematopoietic progenitor potential.
Pathogens and inflammatory signals may change the supportive relationship between progenitors and stromal cells, affecting survival, self-renewal, or blood-cell production. A resulting change in cobblestone colony formation can therefore reveal altered hematopoiesis or immune reconstitution. The assay provides a way to examine these effects through progenitor activity rather than through colony appearance alone.
The number of cobblestone areas serves as an indicator of functional progenitor activity in the tested culture. More or fewer colonies can reflect differences in the capacity of progenitor cells to survive, maintain themselves, or produce blood cells under stromal support. Interpretation is therefore tied to hematopoietic potential and bone marrow function.
A typical workflow establishes a stromal cell layer, introduces primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells, and maintains the culture so cells can adhere to or migrate beneath the support layer. Investigators then identify the characteristic cobblestone colonies and quantify them. The resulting count is used to assess progenitor activity under the tested culture conditions.
The assay requires a supportive stromal cell layer and conditions that allow progenitor cells to remain in contact with, or move beneath, those cells. Stromal support supplies both physical interactions and secreted growth factors. Without this local environment, the measured outcome would not capture the same survival, self-renewal, and blood-cell production activities.
Researchers can use the assay to test how pathogens, inflammatory signals, or antimicrobial treatments affect hematopoiesis. Changes in colony formation provide evidence of altered progenitor activity and may help evaluate consequences for immune-cell development or immune reconstitution. The approach also supports investigations of bone marrow function under disease- or treatment-related conditions.