Millipore Corporation has announced the availability of their MEL cell lines - licensed, low passage, human embryonic stem cells (hES) used in research for the treatment and potential cure of disabling and terminal diseases and conditions.
The MEL-1 and MEL-2 hES cell lines have been extensively tested with Millipore's HEScGRO media for human embryonic stem cell culture and are an addition to Millipore's range of products for hES cell research.
The MEL cell lines, derived by Stem Cell Sciences in collaboration with Melbourne IVF and the Australian Stem Cell Centre, are under license from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. An agreement between Millipore and the Australian Stem Cell Centre in June 2006 made it possible for Millipore to distribute and market the stem cell lines in countries outside of Australia.
The MEL cell lines are provided at early passage suitable for maximising the stable lifespan of the cell line and ensuring extended research time in a stable, pluripotent state. Late passage cell lines can have a limited workable shelf-life as karyotype stability may decrease and pluripotent characteristics may shift to reflect a multipotent state. The MEL cell lines grow as well defined colonies, with compact cells displaying high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratios and prominent nucleoli.