Description: AB22 is a mouse mesothelioma cell line. Mice (BALB/c strain, female, 6-8 weeks old) were exposed to crocidolite asbestos through intraperitoneal injection, resulting in tumour development. Cultures were established from malignant mesothelial cells obtained from ascites fluid.

Organism: Mouse (Mus musculus)

Strain: BALB/c

Tissue: Mesothelium

Growth Properties: Adherent

Morphology: Cells are stellate-shaped.

Growth Medium: RPMI 1640 (with 2mM L-Glutamine + 25mM HEPES) + 10% Foetal Calf Serum (FCS)

Resuscitation: Remove protective cryoflex layer around the ampoule prior to thawing. Thaw the ampoule by gently agitating in a 37°C waterbath; thawing should be rapid (around 2 minutes). A centrifugation step to remove the cryoprotectant after thawing is necessary for this cell line.

Subculturing Procedure:

Medium Renewal:

Subcultivation Ratio: 1:16 – 1:32 Seeding density 0.2 x10⁴ cells /cm². Harvest the cells using 0.05% Trypsin/EDTA at 37°C for 5 minutes.

Culture Conditions: Cells incubated at 37°C with 5% CO₂.

Cryoprotectant Medium: 10% DMSO + 90% FCS

Handling Procedure for Frozen Cells: Upon receipt, frozen ampoules should be transferred directly to liquid nitrogen storage without delay, if not to be used immediately. Storage at -80°C may result in loss of viability.

Additional Information: Cells are tumourigenic in syngeneic immunocompetent mice. CBA mice were also exposed to asbestos and developed tumours. When these two groups are compared, BALB/c tumours developed earlier but in fewer mice, and tumour development was evidenced by ascites but not by solid tumour formation. BALB/c cells also adapted better to in vitro conditions, with a higher proportion of cell lines relative to CBA cells.

Depositor: Richard Lake – University of Western Australia

Reference:

Davis MR, Manning LS, Whitaker D, Garlepp MJ, Robinson BW (1992)

Establishment of a murine model of malignant mesothelioma.

Int J Cancer 52: 881-886. 

Other publication: Cytogenomic characterization of three murine malignant mesothelioma tumor cell lines. Wahlbuhl et al. Mol Cytogenet (2020) 13:43. (see attachment).

Cellosaurus: CVCL_4406