Vero cells

Detailed article on Vero cells, a type of cell line used in research and vaccine production.

Vero cells are a lineage of cells used in cell cultures, derived from the kidney of the African green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus). These cells are widely used in research and the production of vaccines due to their ability to grow rapidly and support the replication of a wide range of viruses.

History

Vero cells were first isolated in 1962 by Yasumura and Kawakita at the Chiba University in Japan. The name "Vero" is derived from "Verda Reno," which means "green kidney" in Esperanto, reflecting their origin from the kidney of the African green monkey.

Characteristics

Vero cells are an immortalized cell line, meaning they can divide indefinitely in culture. They are adherent cells, requiring a surface to attach to for growth. Vero cells lack the ability to produce interferon, a protein that is part of the immune response, which makes them particularly useful for studying viral infections, as they do not mount an antiviral response.

Applications

Vero cells are used extensively in virology research and vaccine production. They are particularly valuable for:

• Vaccine Production: Vero cells are used to produce vaccines for diseases such as polio, rabies, and smallpox. They provide a stable and consistent platform for growing viruses needed for vaccine development.
• Viral Research: Due to their susceptibility to a wide range of viruses, Vero cells are used to study viral pathogenesis, replication, and the effects of antiviral drugs.
• Toxicology Studies: Vero cells are also used in toxicology studies to assess the cytotoxicity of various compounds.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• High Growth Rate: Vero cells grow rapidly, making them ideal for large-scale production.
• Broad Susceptibility: They can be infected by a wide variety of viruses, making them versatile for research.
• Consistency: As an immortalized cell line, Vero cells provide consistent results across experiments.

Limitations

• Lack of Interferon Production: While advantageous for certain studies, the lack of interferon production can be a limitation when studying immune responses.
• Species Origin: Being derived from a non-human primate, there are considerations regarding the relevance of findings to human biology.

Culture Conditions

Vero cells are typically cultured in a medium such as Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS). They require a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2 at 37°C for optimal growth.

Safety and Ethical Considerations

As with all cell lines, the use of Vero cells requires adherence to ethical guidelines and safety protocols, particularly when used in vaccine production and research involving infectious agents.

Also see

• Cell culture
• Vaccine production
• Virology
• African green monkey
• Interferon