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Human Brain Astrocyte


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Primary human astrocytes isolated from normal brain cortical tissue. GFAP-positive (>98%) with a guaranteed minimum population doubling level of 10. Ideal for neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier, and neuron co-culture research. >5x10^5 cells/vial
 
Storage and Shipping: Cells are shipped as a frozen vial on dry ice.
 
Upon Receipt: Frozen Vial: Transfer immediately to liquid nitrogen for
long-term storage.
Price
0.00 0.00 (Tax excluded)

For Research Use Only
Return & Refund Policy

Internal Reference: KCL-AST-101

Description
Characterization
Receipt Protocol
Catalog
Storage & Handling
Safety
FAQs
Product Description

⚠ FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY — Not for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures

KCL-AST-101 is a primary human astrocyte cell line isolated from normal human brain cortical tissue. Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cell type in the central nervous system, where they regulate neuronal metabolism, modulate synaptic transmission, contribute to blood–brain barrier integrity, and respond to injury through reactive astrogliosis.

Cells are provided at Passage 1 in cryopreserved vials. Cultured following the recommended protocol, this lot has a minimum average population doubling level greater than 10, supporting multiple downstream passages for extended studies. Cytoplasmic GFAP positivity is confirmed at greater than 98% by immunofluorescence, verifying astrocyte lineage identity.

This line is well suited to neuroinflammation studies, blood–brain barrier modeling, and co-culture systems with neurons, endothelial cells, or pericytes. All lots are quality tested prior to release for GFAP positivity, viability, and pathogen screening.

Recommended Medium

Astrocytes Growth Medium (AGM), which contains FBS and growth factor supplements formulated specifically for astrocyte expansion. To prepare quiescent cells for stimulation assays, replace AGM with a basal medium containing 0.5% FBS for 8–12 hours prior to the experiment.

Applications
Neuroinflammation Studies Blood-Brain Barrier Models Co-Culture with Neurons Co-Culture with Endothelial Cells Neurotoxicity Screening Reactive Astrogliosis Research CNS Disease Modeling
Characterization

All lots are quality tested prior to release.

Identity & Viability
Parameter Result Specification
Cytoplasmic GFAP ✓ Positive >98% by immunofluorescence
Population doubling level ✓ Confirmed Minimum average >10 doublings in recommended medium
Post-thaw viability ✓ Pass >70% at time of shipment
Passage number at freeze ✓ Confirmed Passage 1
Tissue source ✓ Confirmed Normal human brain cortical tissue; adherent morphology
Quality Control
Test Result
HIV-1 ✗ Negative
HBV ✗ Negative
HCV ✗ Negative
Mycoplasma ✗ Negative

Certificates of Analysis with lot-specific QC data including GFAP immunofluorescence imaging are available upon request. Contact Kulture Scientific with your lot number.

Receipt Protocol

KCL-AST-101 is shipped as a cryopreserved vial on dry ice. These are adherent cells — follow the steps below upon receipt.

❄  Immediate receipt (same day)
1
Inspect the vial upon receipt. Confirm dry ice is present and the vial cap is intact. Do not allow cells to thaw.
2
Transfer immediately to liquid nitrogen vapor phase (−150°C to −196°C) for long-term storage.
⚠ Do not allow cells to thaw during transit or before intended use. Do not store at −80°C or −20°C.
⚗  Thawing & recovery
1
Pre-coat a T25 flask with Universal Coating Solution before thawing — see the Universal Coating Solution protocol page for the complete procedure.
2
Thaw the frozen vial in a 37°C water bath, then transfer the cells into the pre-coated flask with 10 mL of Astrocytes Growth Medium (AGM).
3
Cells typically become confluent within 1–2 days post-thaw and are ready to be passaged.
⚠ Flasks must be pre-coated before plating — uncoated plastic will not support proper attachment or morphology for this line.
Subculture Guidelines

To passage, rinse the flask twice with 5 mL HBSS at room temperature, then add 2 mL Universal Detachment Solution and aspirate excess within 20 seconds. Leave at room temperature or 37°C for 1 minute until cells round up and detach, then add 5 mL Universal Neutralization Buffer and centrifuge at 800 × g for 5 minutes. Resuspend the pellet in 10–15 mL fresh medium and transfer into 2–3 pre-coated T25 flasks (1:2 to 1:3 split ratio). Change medium every 2–3 days; cells typically reach confluence within 7 days at a 1:3 split.

Product Catalog

KCL-AST-101 is available as a cryopreserved vial containing at least 5×105 viable cells in cryoprotective medium.

Product Cat. No. Format Cell Number
Human Brain Astrocyte KCL-AST-101 Cryopreserved Vial ≥5×105 cells/vial
Storage & Handling
❄ Store in Liquid Nitrogen ◾ Ships on Dry Ice ⚠ Do Not Store at −20°C or −80°C
  • Storage — store in liquid nitrogen vapor phase (−150°C to −196°C); this is the only recommended storage condition for cryopreserved cells
  • Do not store at −80°C or −20°C — neither temperature is suitable for long-term cell storage; ice crystal formation at these temperatures will irreversibly damage cell membranes and compromise viability
  • Temperature sensitivity — minimize time outside cryogenic storage; cells are sensitive to temperature fluctuations
  • Freeze-thaw cycles — repeated freeze-thaw cycles compromise viability and downstream performance; thaw only the quantity needed for immediate use
  • Stability — cells stored in liquid nitrogen are stable until the expiry date stated on the vial label when maintained under correct cryogenic conditions
  • Shipping condition — cryopreserved vials are shipped on dry ice; inspect packaging upon receipt and transfer to liquid nitrogen storage immediately
  • DMSO content — cryoprotective medium contains DMSO; wear nitrile gloves during thaw procedures and avoid skin contact
  • Certificate of Analysis — lot-specific QC documentation including GFAP immunofluorescence data available upon request
Health & Safety Information
✓ BSL-1 Product. KCL-AST-101 is an unmodified primary human cell line with no viral transduction or genetic modification history, and is classified as Biosafety Level 1. Standard laboratory precautions apply. Wear gloves, lab coat, and safety glasses. Refer to your institutional guidelines for proper handling and disposal of human-derived cell lines. Safety Data Sheet available at kulturesci.com.
Regulatory Status

For research purposes only. Not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. This product has not been tested or validated for clinical use. Not for direct administration into humans or animals.

Biosafety Level

This cell line is classified as Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1). KCL-AST-101 is a primary, unmodified human cell line with no lentiviral transduction or oncogene immortalization. Standard BSL-1 containment is appropriate for routine culture of this line.

As with any primary human-derived material, screening for common bloodborne pathogens (HIV-1, HBV, HCV) does not eliminate all risk. Handle as potentially biohazardous regardless of donor screening results, and confirm biosafety classification with your institutional biosafety committee (IBC) prior to use.

Biosafety Considerations
  • Human-derived material — dispose of all cell culture waste, including used media and plasticware, as biohazardous material in accordance with institutional guidelines
  • DMSO (cryoprotectant) — skin-penetrating solvent; wear nitrile gloves at all times during thawing
  • Universal Precautions — handle all human-derived biological materials using standard Universal Precautions regardless of pathogen screening results
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these cells immortalized or primary?
KCL-AST-101 cells are primary cells isolated directly from normal human brain cortical tissue — they are not immortalized, transduced, or genetically modified in any way. This means they retain native astrocyte biology but have a finite proliferative lifespan, typically supporting several passages before senescence.
How many passages can I expect before senescence?
This lot is guaranteed for a minimum average population doubling level greater than 10 when cultured in Astrocytes Growth Medium following the recommended protocol. Actual passage number will vary depending on seeding density, confluence at passage, and individual lab technique.
Do I need to pre-coat my culture flasks?
Yes. Flasks should be pre-coated with Universal Coating Solution prior to plating — uncoated tissue culture plastic does not reliably support attachment or normal morphology for this line. See the Universal Coating Solution protocol page for the complete pre-coating procedure.
Can I use a different culture medium?
Astrocytes Growth Medium (AGM) is formulated specifically for astrocyte expansion and is strongly recommended for initial culture and expansion. If your application requires a quiescent state (for example, prior to a stimulation assay), substitute a basal medium containing 0.5% FBS for 8–12 hours before the experiment.
What does the >98% GFAP-positive specification confirm?
GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) is the standard intermediate filament marker for astrocyte identity. A >98% positive rate by immunofluorescence confirms that the isolated population is predominantly astrocytic, with minimal contamination from neurons, microglia, or other CNS cell types that could confound downstream experiments.
Can these be co-cultured with neurons or endothelial cells?
Yes. KCL-AST-101 is commonly used in co-culture systems with neurons, brain microvascular endothelial cells, and pericytes to model neuron–glia signaling, blood–brain barrier function, and neuroinflammatory responses. Optimal co-culture ratios and timing depend on your specific assay design.
Is a Certificate of Analysis available?
Yes — a Certificate of Analysis is available upon request for this lot, confirming GFAP positivity, viability, and pathogen screening results (HIV-1, HBV, HCV, and mycoplasma). Contact Kulture Scientific with your order or lot number to request documentation.