HeLa Cells

Reporting of HeLa cells for the first time by George Gey

The cells of a human epithelial cancer cultivated en masse have been shown to support the multiplication of all three types of poliomyelitis virus. These cells (strain HeLa of Gey) have been maintained in vitro since their derivation from an epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix in February, 1951. As the virus multiplied it caused in from 12 to 96 hours degeneration and destruction of the cancer cells. The specific destructive effect of the virus was prevented by adding homotypic antibody to the cultures but not by adding heterotypic antibodies. Methods for the preparation of large numbers of replicate cultures with suspensions of strain HeLa cells were described. The cells in suspension were readily quantitated by direct counts in a hemocytometer. A synthetic solution that maintains cellular viability was employed for viral propagation. The experimental results demonstrate the usefulness of strain HeLa cells for (a) the quantitation of poliomyelitis virus, (b) the measurement of poliomyelitis antibodies, and (c) the production of virus.

Scherer wf, Syverton jt, Gey go. J Exp Med. 1953 97(5): 695-710.

Adherent Hela cells

Hela cells are an adherent cell line; that is they stick to the bottom of the cell culture flask. They are able to rapidly grow till the cells come in contact with each other and then they stop growing. They usually spread across the surface of the flask and when two adjacent cells come in contact with each other, they stop growing, a phenomena called “contact inhibition”. This growth pattern in a classic growth pattern of oncogenic cells. The doubling time for Hela cells are approximately 24 hours.
Watch adherent Hela cells in cell culture.

Hela cell culture protocol

Hela cells can be grown to the appropriate density usually 70% in a humidified chamber at 37°C, 5% CO2. HeLa cells in many labs are cultured in 75 cm2 flasks (or medium flasks). HeLa cells are grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium with10% fetal bovine serum (FCS) and 1% MEM non-essential amino acids with penicillin-streptomycin at 1% is added to the culture media.

They can also be maintained in RPMI1640 containing penicillin-streptomycin, nonessential amino acids, sodium pyruvate, L-glutamine and 10% fetal calf serum and incubated in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2 at 37°C.