Instances of cross-contamination between cell lines are more common than generally appreciated. Surveys of the scientific literature have suggested that up to 20% of published work based on the use of human cell lines specifies lines that are known to be mis-identified1,2.
This page aims to draw attention to those cell lines that are known, or suspected to be cross-contaminated or misidentified. To view an extensive list of cross-contaminated and misidentified cell lines curated by the International Cell Line Authentication Committee (ICLAC) click on the link to the right. This list has been compiled from published reports in the scientific literature and details obtained from cell banks, their websites, and Wikipedia.
Please also view the Nardone Open Letter which should be of concern to all individuals and organisations using cell cultures.
The information below is specific to cell lines affected by misidentification or cross-contamination which are either currently available in, or were previously available and now withdrawn from, the ECACC catalogue. Where cell lines continue to be available their description in the ECACC catalogue highlights their determined identity which supersedes the original assumed origin.
1. HeLa derivatives
The cell lines listed below have been found to be genetically indistinguishable from the human cervix carcinoma cell line HeLa by short tandem repeat (STR)-PCR profiling. Therefore, these cell lines must be considered to be HeLa. To highlight this, the original cell line name has had (HeLa derivative) appended to it where these cell line names appear in the ECACC catalogue.
Such cell lines should be considered as derived from cervical tissue and should not be used in studies to represent any other type of tissue, including that wrongly assigned to the misidentified cell line.
The cross-contamination occurred prior to deposit with ECACC and affects all known sources of these cell lines.
Cell Line | ECACC cat no. | Determined to be: | Claimed tissue of origin: |
C16 (HeLa derivative) | 84121902 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human foetal lung |
Chang Liver (HeLa derivative) | 88021102 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human liver |
Clone 1-5c-4 (HeLa deriative) | 88021103 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human conjunctiva |
D98/AH2 Clone B (HeLa derivative) | 85112701 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Somatic cell hybrid (HeLa cells and mouse 3T3 cells) |
FL (HeLa derivative) | 90111910 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human amnion |
GIRARDI HEART (HeLa derivative) | 93120822 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human heart |
Hep-2C (HeLa derivative) | 85020207 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human larynx |
Hep2 (Clone 2B) (HeLa derivative) | 85011412 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human larynx |
Hep2 (HeLa derivative) | 86030501 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human larynx |
HSG (HeLa derivative) | 95031024 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human sub-mandibular gland |
INT 407(HeLa derivative) | 85051004 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human embryonic intestine |
JIII (HeLa derivative) | 93120824 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human monocytic leukaemia |
KB (HeLa derivative) | 94050408 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human oral epidermis |
L-41(HeLa derivative) | 96121716 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human bone marrow |
L132 (HeLa derivative) | 89111004 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human embryonic lung |
WISH (HeLa derivative) | 88102403 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human amnion |
WKD (HeLa derivative) | 93120839 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human conjunctiva |
WRL 68 (HeLa derivative) | 89121403 | HeLa derivative, human cervix carcinoma cell line | Human embryonic liver |
2. Cell lines with re-assigned identities (non-HeLa derivatives)
Cell lines that have been found to be cross-contaminated with or misidentified as another cell line and as a result have had their identities reassigned. Please note that these re-assignments affect all official sources of the cell lines available. The cross-contamination occurred prior to deposit with ECACC.
Cell Line | ECACC cat no. | Determined to be: | Originally referred to as: |
CHP-100 | 06122001 | IMR 32 another neuroblastoma cell line8 | CHP-100 a neuroblastoma cell line |
ECV304 | 92091712 | identical to T24 - a human bladder carcinoma epithelial cell line1,3 | ‘spontaneously transformed’ human umbilical cord endothelial cells |
TE671 | 89071904 | a derivative of the rhabdomyosarcoma cell line RD4,5 | a medulloblastoma cell line |
TE671 Subline No.2 | 94052610 | a derivative of the rhabdomyosarcoma cell line RD4,5 | a medulloblastoma cell line |
TEC61 | 06031505 | JEG3, a human choriocarcinoma cell line7 | derived from thyroid endothelium |
3. Identification Queries
U-373 MG
The authenticity of some sources of the U-373 MG cell line has been questioned6. The ATCC reported that their stock of U-373 MG has been shown to have differing genetic properties to stock from the originators laboratory, and to share similarities with another glioblastoma cell line, U-251. In light of this, ECACC suspended supply of the U-373 MG cell line and undertook an investigation into the authenticity of its own stock. ECACC found similar results to the ATCC i.e. the stock held as U-373 MG was found to be identical by short tandem repeat (STR)-PCR profiling to U-251. The U-373 MG cell line listed under catalogue number 89081403 has been re-named as ‘U-251 (formally known as U-373 MG)’ and allocated a new ECACC catalogue number: 09063001. A new deposit of U-373 MG has been obtained from the originator and shown to differ from U-251 by STR-PCR profiling, this has been added to the collection and is called U-373 MG (Uppsala), ECACC catalogue number 08061901, to distinguish it from the U-373 MG cell line which was listed under catalogue number 89081403 – which is now known to be U-251. Both cell lines are derived from glioblastoma astrocytomas.
IPTP/98
ECACC has recently determined, using isoenzyme species analysis, that the IPTP/98 cell line sample deposited with ECACC is of rat origin rather than human. Although the sample received was purported by the depositor to be a human glioblastoma cell line an investigation has shown that the original material received was in fact of rat origin. As a result of this discovery IPTP/98 has been withdrawn from the ECACC catalogue.
IPDDC-A2
ECACC has recently determined, using isoenzyme species analysis, that the IPDDC-A2 cell line sample deposited with ECACC is of rat origin rather than human. Although the sample received was purported by the depositor to be a human astrocytoma cell line an investigation has shown that the original material received was in fact of rat origin. As a result of this discovery IPDDC-A2 has been withdrawn from the ECACC catalogue.
TEC61
ECACC has recently determined using STR-PCR profiling that TEC61, ECACC cat no. 06031505, which was claimed to be derived from thyroid endothelium is actually JEG3, a human choriocarcinoma. The cell-conditioned medium from JEG3 was used to support the growth of the putative endothelial cell line (Patel et al., 2009 PMID: 12388152, retraction - PMID:19625678)7. As a result of this discovery, TEC61 has been withdrawn from the ECACC catalogue.
CHP-100
ECACC has recently determined using STR-PCR profiling that CHP-100, ECACC cat no. 06122001, which was claimed to be a neuroblastoma is actually IMR 32 another neuroblastoma8. As a result of this discovery, CHP-100 has been withdrawn from the ECACC catalogue.
If additional misidentified cell lines are discovered ECACC will report findings on this page.
References
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