Growth Factors and Cytokines for Cell Culture
Growth factors and cytokines are signaling molecules secreted by various cells of the immune system. They have important roles in regulating immune responses and inflammation. Depending on their function and target, they can also affect various cell types. Widely used in the field of cell and gene therapy, growth factors and cytokines are involved in many functions such as cell growth and differentiation, inflammation and coordinating immune responses to pathogens.
Sartorius offers an extensive portfolio of high-quality, recombinant, animal-free and carrier-free growth factors and cytokines - from research use only (RUO) to preclinical and GMP grade - for ex vivo cell culture.
CellGenix® preclinical and GMP growth factors and cytokines are manufactured under the same conditions: equal product quality and performance, enabling a seamless transition from preclinical to GMP.
Explore our quality grades below.
Grade | Product Overview | Intended Use | Quality, Support and Documentation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RUO | High-quality RUO growth factors and cytokines produced using recombinant human DNA technology and are carrier protein-free | For basic research | ||
Preclinical | Recombinant human growth factors and cytokines: carrier protein-free and cost-efficient alternative to GMP for the early development phase when regulatory support and quality of raw materials have a lower priority. | For preclinical ex vivo use; designed to meet the needs of translational researchers and process developers | Allows for the safe use in accordance with USP Chapter <1043> and Ph. Eur. General Chapter 5.2.12 | |
GMP | Recombinant human growth factors and cytokines: carrier protein-free and manufactured under strict conditions in compliance with relevant GMP and global guidelines to meet the highest quality and safety standard for use in clinical trials and ultimately in patient treatment | For ex vivo use in clinical trials and commercial ATMP manufacturing | Provided with documented evidence of purity, potency, consistency and stability along with expert regulatory and technical support, DMF available for most products Allows for the safe use in accordance with USP <1043>. Ph. Eur. 5.2.12 and in addition ISO 20399:2022 |
Explore Growth Factors and Cytokines
Growth Factors and Cytokines by Cell Type
Immune Cells
Immune cells, also known as leukocytes or white blood cells, are involved in protecting the body against infectious disease and foreign invaders. They are produced and derived from multipotent cells in bone marrow known as hematopoietic stem cells.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)
Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent stromal cells that can self-renew and differentiate into bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat cells. Thanks to their regenerative capacity and immunomodulatory properties, MSCs are widely studied for use in regenerative medicine and are being investigated for treating conditions such as osteoarthritis, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders.
Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs)
Hematopoietic stem cells are multipotent cells that give rise to all blood lineages through hematopoiesis. They reside mainly in the bone marrow (especially pelvis, femur, sternum), with smaller numbers present in cord blood and peripheral blood. HSCs generate both myeloid cells (e.g., monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, erythrocytes, platelets) and lymphoid cells (T cells, B cells, NK cells). Clinically, they are used in bone marrow, peripheral blood, and cord blood transplants to restore the blood and immune system in patients with cancers and other immune disorders.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs)
iPSCs and ESCs are pluripotent stem cells, meaning they can differentiate into any cell type in the body. iPSCs are generated by reprogramming adult cells (e.g., skin or blood), while ESCs are derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst-stage embryo and can proliferate indefinitely in culture. Both are powerful tools for research and potential therapies, but ESC use raises ethical concerns because it involves embryo destruction, whereas iPSCs avoid this issue by originating from adult cells.
Organoids
Organoids are 3D miniaturized structures grown from stem cells (ESCs, iPSCs, or adult stem cells) that resemble specific organs. They more closely mimic human organ structure and function than traditional 2D cultures, making them powerful models for studying development, disease, and drug responses, as well as for personalized medicine. Organoids have been generated for many tissues, including brain, kidney, liver, gut, and lung, but they remain simplified models that do not fully replicate whole-organ complexity.
Endothelial Cells
Endothelial cells form the thin, single-cell layer (endothelium) lining the interior of blood and lymphatic vessels, creating a barrier between circulating blood or lymph and surrounding tissues. Endothelial dysfunction is a key predictor of vascular and systemic diseases, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, thrombosis, chronic kidney disease, cancer progression, and severe viral infections.
Neuronal Cells
Neuronal cells, or neurons, are the basic units of the brain and nervous system, responsible for receiving sensory input, sending motor commands, and processing and relaying electrical signals. They communicate over long distances via axons, which transmit signals, and dendrites, which receive them. Major neuron types include sensory neurons (respond to stimuli like light or sound), motor neurons (control muscle contraction), and interneurons (connect neurons within the brain and spinal cord).
Growth Factors and Cytokines Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
The main difference between research use only (RUO), preclinical, and GMP areas is in the quality and documentation required for their manufacture and use.
Growth factors and cytokines for RUO are produced for use in basic research and are not intended for diagnostic or therapeutic applications. They are typically manufactured using standard laboratory procedures and may not meet the stringent quality requirements necessary for clinical use. They are often used in academic research or commercial applications such as drug discovery, screening, and target identification.
CellGenix® preclinical growth factors and cytokines are intended for use in the early development phase of cell & gene therapies. They are produced under the same conditions as the CellGenix® GMP growth factors and cytokines, using identical production steps and expression systems. This ensures equal product quality and performance and enables a seamless transition when switching to the GMP grade growth factors and cytokines. Our preclinical grade, therefore, offers a cost-efficient alternative for preclinical phase when regulatory support and quality of raw materials have a lower priority and access to GMP-relevant documentation is not required yet.
CellGenix® GMP growth factors and cytokines are manufactured under strict conditions in compliance with relevant GMP and global guidelines to meet the highest quality and safety standard for use in clinical trials and ultimately in patient treatment. The difference to CellGenix® preclinical is that we offer regulatory support, and more comprehensive QC testing including tighter specifications and documentation.
Growth factors are signaling molecules that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. "Cytokine" was first used to define a subset of growth factors influencing immune and hemopoietic cells. However, it is now clear that cytokines can act on many different cell types and have diverse effects on proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, "cytokine" is now used more broadly and interchangeably with "growth factor."
Each cytokine is functionally validated using a relevant cell-based bioassay that reflects its physiological mechanism of action (for example, proliferation or activation of a responsive cell line, or induction of a downstream signaling response). Bioactivity is reported in units per microgram (U/µg or IU/µg), using an internal or international reference standard where applicable.
In addition, every lot is released according to defined specifications for purity, identity, and endotoxin level, ensuring consistent performance across batches.
