Is Percoll innocuous to cells?

• DOI: 10.1042/bj2020795
• Publication Date: 2015-08-10T20:33:10Z
• Authors: J S Wakefield; J S J Gale; M V Berridge; T W Jordan; H C Ford
• Keywords: Male; 0303 health sciences; Kupffer Cells; Macrophages; Leydig Cells; Povidone; In Vitro Techniques; Silicon Dioxide; Rats; Mice; Microscopy, Electron; 03 medical and health sciences; Liver; Cell Adhesion; Mice, Inbred CBA; Animals; Ascitic Fluid; Female; Colloids

Peritoneal macrophages from mice, isolated rat liver Kupffer cells and rat testis Leydig cells ingested large numbers of Percoll particles, a gradient medium widely used for separation of cells and subcellular organelles by density-gradient centrifugation. A decrease in the percentage of macrophages adhering to plastic also occurred after exposure of the cells to Percoll, even at 4 degrees C, a temperature at which Percoll was not ingested. The effect of Percoll on macrophage adherence may involve a loose association between the density medium and the cell surface. Other cell-surface-related phenomena may also be affected by prior exposure of cells to Percoll.