²Ñ±ð³Ù³ó´Ç°ä³Ü±ô³Ùâ„¢ Semi-Solid Methylcellulose-Based Media
MethoCult™ Methylcellulose-Based Media
Detect & Quantify Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells in Colony-Forming Unit (CFU) Assays
²Ñ±ð³Ù³ó´Ç°ä³Ü±ô³Ùâ„¢ is a line of semi-solid methylcellulose-based media formulated to promote optimal growth and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in culture. ²Ñ±ð³Ù³ó´Ç°ä³Ü±ô³Ùâ„¢ is the “Gold Standard†for the in vitro detection and quantification of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the or cell (CFC) assay, also known as the methylcellulose assay. A wide range of ²Ñ±ð³Ù³ó´Ç°ä³Ü±ô³Ùâ„¢ media formulations are available for CFU assays with hematopoietic cells from human and mouse tissues. Select formulations can also be used with hematopoietic cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) or from other species, specifically rats, non-human primates and dogs.
Why Use MethoCult™ Media?
- Prepared using carefully screened components.
- Rigorous performance testing, ensuring superior lot-to-lot reproducibility.
- Available in ready-to-use formulations to identify and enumerate total CFUs, erythroid (CFU-E and BFU-E), granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM, CFU-G and CFU-M) and multi-lineage (CFU-GEMM) progenitors.
- Also available in formulations that allow the researcher to add components of choice. Custom formulations and sizes are available on request.
Serum-Containing
Formats:
- 80-100 mL bottles
- 3 mL x 24 tubes
Contains Serum:
Yes
Contains Cytokines:
Available with or without recombinant cytokines added
Tissues:
- Cord blood
- Bone marrow
- Peripheral blood
- Leukapheresis products
- Purified or cultured HSPCs
Applications:
- Express - faster CFU assay for cord blood banks
- Classic - original formulation for historical protocols
- Optimum - improved distinction of myeloid colony subtypes
- Enriched - for purified or cultured HSPCs, LTC-IC assays
- Supports the growth of myeloid (CFU-G/M/GM), mixed (CFU-GEMM) and/or erythroid (CFU-E/BFU-E) colonies
Features:
- Formulated with or without EPO
- Compatible with STEMvision™ instrument for automated and standardized counting of CFU assays
- Proficiency testing available
Serum-Free
Formats:
80-100 mL bottles
Contains Serum:
No
Contains Cytokines:
Available with or without recombinant cytokines added
Tissues:
- Cord blood
- Bone marrow
- Peripheral blood
- Leukapheresis products
- Purified or cultured HSPCs
- hPSC-derived cells
Applications:
- Assays where a medium of defined composition is required
- Supports the growth of myeloid (CFU-G/M/GM) colonies with or without the presence of mixed (CFU-GEMM) colonies
Features:
- Completely serum-free and defined
- Formulated with or without EPO or other cytokines
With Conditioned Medium
Formats:
- 100 mL bottle
Contains Serum:
Yes
Contains Cytokines:
Conditioned media with or without recombinant EPO
Tissues:
- Cord blood
- Bone marrow
- Peripheral blood
- Leukapheresis products
- Purified or cultured HSPCs
Applications:
- Assays which use agar-leukocyte conditioned medium (Agar-LCM) as a source of colony stimulating factors
- Supports the growth of myeloid (CFU-G/M/GM), mixed (CFU-GEMM) and/or erythroid (CFU-E/BFU-E) colonies
Features:
- Contains serum and supplements
- Formulated with or without EPO
Base Methylcellulose
Format:
40 mL bottle
Contains Serum:
No
Contains Cytokines:
No
Tissues:
- Cord blood
- Bone marrow
- Peripheral blood
- Leukapheresis Products
- Purified or cultured HSPCs
Applications:
Serum-free, cytokine-free formulation suitable for testing sera or cytokines
Features:
- Complete flexibility to add individual cytokines and supplements
- Base methylcellulose 2.6% stock solution in Iscove’s MDM
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Unsure Which ²Ñ±ð³Ù³ó´Ç°ä³Ü±ô³Ùâ„¢ Formulation is Right for You?
For robust colony growth in the CFU assay, the most optimal ²Ñ±ð³Ù³ó´Ç°ä³Ü±ô³Ùâ„¢ formulation will depend on your starting cell source. Use our Interactive Product Finder to determine which formulation is best for your experiment, and generate a complete materials list for your CFU assay.
Serum-Containing
Formats:
- 90 mL or 100 mL bottles
- 3 mL x 24 tubes
Contains Serum:
Yes
Contains Cytokines:
Available with or without recombinant cytokines added
Tissues:
- Bone marrow
- Peripheral blood
- Spleen
- Fetal liver
Applications:
Supports the clonogenic growth of myeloid (CFU-G/M/GM), mixed (CFU-GEMM) and/or erythroid (CFU-E/BFU-E) progenitor cells
Features:
- Formulations with or without EPO
- Select formulations compatible with STEMvision™ instrument for automated and standardized counting of CFU assays
Serum-Free
Format:
100 mL bottle
Contains Serum:
No
Contains Cytokines:
With recombinant cytokines added
Tissues:
- Bone marrow
- Peripheral blood
- Spleen
- Fetal liver
Applications:
Supports the clonogenic growth of erythroid (BFU-E) progenitor cells
Features:
- Formulated with EPO
- Compatible with STEMvision™ instrument for automated and standardized counting of CFU assays
Base Methylcellulose
Formats:
80 mL or 40 mL bottles
Contains Serum:
No
Contains Cytokines:
No
Tissues:
- Bone marrow
- Peripheral blood
- Spleen
- Fetal liver
Applications:
Serum-free, cytokine-free formulation suitable for testing sera or cytokines
Features:
- Complete flexibility to add individual cytokines and supplements
- Base methylcellulose 2.6% stock solution in Iscove’s MDM
Other Species
Format:
100 mL bottle
Contains Serum:
Yes
Contains Cytokines:
With recombinant cytokines added
Tissues:
- Rat bone marrow
- Non-human primate bone marrow, peripheral blood and purified HSPCs
Applications:
- Quantitation of rat myeloid (CFU-GM/G/M) or erythroid (CFU-E/BFU-E) progenitor cells
- Quantitation of non-human primate myeloid (CFU-GM), mixed (CFU-GEMM) and/or erythroid (CFU-E/BFU-E) progenitor cells
Features:
- Rat GF R3774 formulation is optimized for detection of rat granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells
- Mouse SF M3436 formulation is suitable for growth and enumeration of rat erythroid progenitors
- Many human Classic, Optimum and Enriched formulations are suitable for use with non-human primate samples
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Data
Figure 1. Human Cord Blood Colonies Plated in MethoCult™ Optimum H4034, Imaged on STEMvision™ Instrument
Figure 2. Mouse Bone Marrow Colonies Plated in MethoCult™ GF M3434, Imaged on STEMvision™ Instrument
Automate and Standardize CFU Assay Counting
Ensure accurate and reproducible CFU assay results by using STEMvisionâ„¢, a bench-top instrument and computer system for automated imaging and counting of hematopoietic colonies.
Brand History
Both ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï and MethoCult™ grew out of the Media Preparation Service of the for Hematology/Oncology Research at the British Columbia Cancer Agency. Now more than 20 years later, MethoCult™ is the most published methylcellulose-based medium for use in hematopoietic CFU assays.CFU Assay Resources
Explore our resources for information and support on setting up, optimizing, and standardizing the CFU assay.
Video
How to Standardize and Automate Hematopoietic Colony Counting in CFU Assays with STEMvisionâ„¢
Wallchart
Identification of Colonies Derived from Human Hematopoietic Progenitors
Key Applications and Related Publications
Studying Effects of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Regulators on Normal Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Proliferation and Differentiation
Shin J et al. (2014) J Exp Med 211(2): 217-31
Zimdahl B et al. (2014) Nat Genet 46(3):245-52
Baker S et al. (2014) Proc Natl Acad Sci 111(8):3122-7
Zimdahl B et al. (2014) Nat Genet 46(3):245-52
Baker S et al. (2014) Proc Natl Acad Sci 111(8):3122-7
Studying Effects of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Regulators on Malignant Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Proliferation and Differentiation
Li Q et al. (2013) Nature504(7478):143-7
Zhu X et al. (2014) Nat Genet46(3):287-93
Xu J et al. (2014) Proc Natl Acad Sci111(7):2620-5
Montes R et al. (2014) Leukemia28(3):666-74
Zhu X et al. (2014) Nat Genet46(3):287-93
Xu J et al. (2014) Proc Natl Acad Sci111(7):2620-5
Montes R et al. (2014) Leukemia28(3):666-74
Evaluating Hematopoietic Cell Samples for Stem Cell Transplantation
Yoo K et al. (2007) Bone Marrow Transplant 39(9):515-21
Prasad V et al. (2008) Blood 112(7):2979-89
Page et al. (2011) Biol Blood Marrow Tr 17(9):1362-74
Prasad V et al. (2008) Blood 112(7):2979-89
Page et al. (2011) Biol Blood Marrow Tr 17(9):1362-74
Optimizing and Evaluating Gene Transfer Protocols
Hanawa H et al. (2014) Blood 103(11):4062-9
Aiuti A et al. (2013) Science 341(6148):1233151
Biffi A et al. (2013) 341(6148):1233158
Aiuti A et al. (2013) Science 341(6148):1233151
Biffi A et al. (2013) 341(6148):1233158
Quantifying Human and Mouse Primitive Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells Following Long-Term Culture-Initiating Cell (LTC-IC) Assays
Hogge D et al. (1996) Blood 88(10):3765-73
Lemieux M et al. (1995) Blood 86(4):1339-47
Kirouac D et al. (2010) Mol Syst Biol 6:417
Lemieux M et al. (1995) Blood 86(4):1339-47
Kirouac D et al. (2010) Mol Syst Biol 6:417
Quality Control of Cryopreservation, Cell Processing and Ex Vivo Manipulation Procedures
Alonso J et al. (2001) Cytotherapy 3(6):429-33
Broxmeyer H et al. (2003) Proc Natl Acad Sci 100(2):645-50
Koliakos G et al. (2007) Cytotherapy 9(7):654-9
Broxmeyer H et al. (2003) Proc Natl Acad Sci 100(2):645-50
Koliakos G et al. (2007) Cytotherapy 9(7):654-9
Testing in Vitro Sensitivity of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells to Candidate Therapeutics for Drug Development
Pessina A et al. (2001) Toxicol In Vitro 15(6):729-40
Pessina A et al. (2003) Toxicol Sci 75(2):355-67
Pessina A et al. (2003) Toxicol Sci 75(2):355-67
Evaluating Hematopoietic Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Vodyanik M et al. (2006) Blood 108(6):2095-105
Amabile G et al. (2013) Blood 121(8):1255-64
Amabile G et al. (2013) Blood 121(8):1255-64
