Evercyte cell-based assays and in-vitro drug testing services

Evercyte has developed highly differentiated human telomerase (hTERT) immortalized cell lines that can be used as superior in vitro diagnostics test systems in various fields of biomedicine and biotechnology.

It also offers senolytic drug testing using cell-based assays for in-vitro analysis of efficacy and toxicity. These services offer fast-track development routes from initial candidate hit to lead cell-based testing.

In Vitro Test Systems

Highly differentiated human cells have become increasingly important as in vitro diagnostic and test systems in various fields of biomedicine, toxicology and biotechnology.

However application of normal somatic cells for in vitro testing can be problematic. Although they maintain a phenotype similar to the corresponding cells in vivo, the application of these cells is limited due to their finite life span. On the contrary, tumor cells can be grown without limitation but have lost essential characteristics.

hTERT in-vitro testing

Evercyte’s hTERT immortalized cell lines circumvent these limitations since they are characterized by expression of cell-type specific markers and functions and thus are balanced in growth and differentiation. Besides sole expression of the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT), Evercyte has also developed protocols for combined introduction of hTERT and viral oncogenes or essential cell cycle regulators for life span extension without tumorigenic transformation of the cells.

These systems can also be used for assessing toxicology in vitro.

Derivatives of Evercyte cells (e.g. cell pellets, cDNA, RNA, extracellular vesicles) are available upon request.

Senolytic in-vitro drug testing

Evercyte also offers senolytic in-vitro testing services using cell-based assays for efficacy and toxicity. This service offers a fast-track development route from initial senolytic candidate  hit to lead cell-based testing.

The drug testing service tests senolytic activity using human cells from different organs and tissues as well as different inducers of cellular senescence.

The new service draws on Evercyte’s more than 25 years of work and experience with cellular senescence, that have seen their scientists publish more than 130 peer reviewed articles in the field of senolytics.

Evercyte’s senolytic efficacy and toxicity assays are based on human cells from different organs and tissues (e.g. skin fibroblasts, umbilical vein endothelial cells, podocytes, microvascular endothelial cells, keratinocytes, kidney epithelial cells, mesenchymal stem cells) that are readily available.

The service offer several options for induction of senescence, including in vitro propagation until cells enter replicative senescence (growth until replicative senescence) or induction of stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS); using high intensity x-ray, doxorubicin, or oxidative stressors.

Resources
Click on Evercyte Cell-based assays and CRO services for further information on services.