Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis ›› 2018, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (2): 144-149.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-616x.2018.02.013

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Establishment of a sperm-tumor cell fusion model

CHEN Qiang1,2, JIN Guangyi1, LIN Guimiao1, LIU Hao1, XU Gaixia2, WANG Xiaomei1   

  1. 1. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060;
    2. Key Laboratory of Optoelectronics Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2017-12-11 Revised:2018-03-13 Online:2018-03-30 Published:2018-03-30

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To establish a stable system for sperm and tumor cell fusion and to provide a biological model for sperm and tumor cell fusion investigation. METHODS: Fusion of sperm and tumor cells (e.g. Hela) was carried out by their co-cultivation in vitro. The 3D-confocal microscopy imaging was used to confirm the fusion of both cells. The transwell insert culture system was used as a control for cell fusion experiment. The fusion model was optimized by using the self-synthesized sperm-tumor cell culture medium (STCM). RESULTS: Fusion between the sperm and the tumor cells was observed in vitro which generally occurred in 1.5 to 2 hours after co-cultivation. The chimeric cells generally displayed a spherical type and floated in the medium as a result of significantly reduced attachment ability. Comparison with RPMI 1640 medium,STCM not only disturbed the growth of tumor cells but greatly improved the fusion rates between the two cell types (P < 0.05) and accelerated the fusion to some extent. CONCLUSION: We have established a fusion model of sperm and tumor cells by using co-cultivation of both cells in vitro.

Key words: sperm, tumor cells, cell fusion, chimeric cells

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