Stem Cell Core facility

The stem cell core facility of Biocenter Kuopio is a comprehensive provider of human pluripotent stem cell services at A.I. Virtanen Institute, Kuopio campus of the University of Eastern Finland.

iPSC-derived, patient derived cells serve as models to study human development or pathophysiological mechanisms of diseases. They can also lead to development of novel treatments or discovery of biomarkers.

We  generate induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from somatic cells provided by the client. Our stem cell core operates on a fee-for-service basis in providing custom iPSC derivation using the non-integrative Sendai virus technology and combination of the four “Yamanaka factors” (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and C-MYC) for reprogramming of somatic cells. The standard cell type used is skin fibroblast and the starting material can either be a fibroblast cell line or a fresh skin biopsy. Special arrangements can be made for the reprogramming of other cell types. We guarantee the derivation of several iPSC lines from the cells provided by the client. In the case reprogramming is not successful, there will be no charge for this attempt. We can also help with culture and expansion of the iPSCs as well as with differentiation towards neurons, astrocytes, endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes.

Contacts:

New projects, questions etc: Riikka Martikainen (riikka.martikainen@uef.fi, 050-5999538)

Practical matters, sample delivery etc: Lidiia Plotnikova (lidiia.plotnikova@uef.fi)

Pricing of services

* Three frozen cryovials per clone plus one vial of early passage clones.

Basic characterization of hiPSC includes: Morphology and maintenance of typical morphology in culture, expression of key endogenous pluripotency-associated genes (qRT-PCR), presence/absence of the viral vectors, viability of the frozen stock, mycoplasma test.

** iPS cell lines frozen in one vial at passage 3.