feederceller

Feederceller, commonly referred to as a feeder cell, is a cell line used in tissue culture to support the growth and maintenance of other cells, especially stem or progenitor cells. Feederceller layers provide a supportive microenvironment by secreting growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix components, and by presenting surface molecules that stimulate adhesion and signaling. The feeder layer is not intended to contribute to the experimental cell population and is typically inactivated before use, so that the feeder cells do not proliferate.

Common sources of feederceller include mouse embryonic fibroblasts and various human fibroblast lines. To prevent overgrowth, feeder cells are often irradiated or treated with mitomycin C to halt cell division, while preserving metabolic activity. In many protocols, the feeder layer is cultured on a prepared substrate (for example, gelatin or Matrigel) and then plated with the target cells in defined media.

Feederceller systems have been widely used to culture embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, where the layer helps maintain pluripotency and colony morphology. They are also used for hematopoietic and other progenitor cell cultures in some settings. However, feederceller approaches can introduce animal-derived contaminants and batch-to-batch variability, leading to concerns for clinical applications.

In modern practice, many labs use feeder-free, defined media and synthetic substrates to reduce risk, although feeder-based methods remain common in basic research and in some legacy protocols. Regulators emphasize traceability and GMP-compliance when feeder components are involved.