Cross-Contamination of Cells in Culture

Abstract

Lists are presented of references to all known publications describing cell properties that serve to characterize (i) known strains of HeLa and purported human cell lines indicated as HeLa contaminants, (ii) strains of human cell lines contaminated with human but non-HeLa cells, and (iii) strains of cells contaminated by cells from one or more other species. Frequencies of cell cross-contaminations are cited and references are presented to relatively simple techniques that could serve to detect such contamination.

Specificity of antibodies to the purified Con A acceptor glycoproteins of cultured tumour cells

“…This similarity in the antigen profiles of the HEp-2 and HeLa cell lines could reflect the properties of the normal epithelial cells from which they originated. However, it has been shown that HEp-2 cells from a number of sources (including the ATCC collection) express the specific markers such as the marker chromosomes, G6PD type A isozyme and lack of Y chromosome associated with the HeLa cell line (Nelson-Rees et al, 1981). Thus the similarity in the antigen profiles of HEp-2 and HeLa may reflect this putative contamination rather than the properties of authentic laryngeal carcinoma cells.…”

Animal Systems for Translational Research in Radiation Oncology

“…Of a total of 253 cultures analyzed, 41 were not as claimed; 21 were of a different species, 15 were HeLa and not the intended human tumor cell line; 5 were miscellaneous. Attempts to employ genetic analyses were recommended as early as 1977 to monitor for intraand inter-species cell-line contamination (64) This subject was reviewed extensively in 1981 by Nelson-Rees et al (65).…”

Cell culture forensics

“…The cell culture community learned from this sorry episode but is still looking for a better fix. Stan Gartler migrated back to genetic studies; Walter Nelson-Rees retired abruptly in 1981, a casualty of the U.S. National Cancer Institute's retreat from Richard Nixon's celebrated War on Cancer, yet not before publishing several very specific hit lists of notorious cell contaminants in Science magazine (5)(6)(7)(8). Yet cell contamination continues into the 21st century.…”

“…He exposed HeLa contamination in over 40 different human cultures, all labeled as something else (3,(5)(6)(7)(8). The cell culture community had a very large problem.…”