Medium for mammalian somatic cells and additive therefor

Abstract

Disclosed are a medium for mammalian somatic cells with which mammalian somatic cells can be grown effectively when the mammalian somatic cells are cultured, while reducing the amount of serum to be added to the medium as much as possible or without adding serum thereto, and an additive to constitute the medium. By blending of a ligand for an endothelial cell differentiation gene (Edg) family receptor and a ligand for a serotonin receptor to a medium, somatic cells of mammals can be grown even in cases where the medium does not contain serum at all or contains only a small amount thereof.

1 . A medium for mammalian somatic cells comprising a ligand for an endothelial cell differentiation gene (Edg) family receptor and a ligand for a serotonin receptor. 
     
     
         2 . The medium according to  claim 1 , which is a serum-free medium or a low-serum medium. 
     
     
         3 . The medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of said ligand for an endothelial cell differentiation gene family receptor in the medium is 0.01 to 100 μM, and the concentration of said ligand for a serotonin receptor in the medium is 0.1 to 100 μM. 
     
     
         4 . The medium according to  claim 1 , wherein said ligand for an endothelial cell differentiation gene family receptor is at least one selected from the group consisting of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and salts thereof; sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P); and agonists of endothelial cell differentiation gene (Edg) family receptors. 
     
     
         5 . The medium according to  claim 1 , wherein said ligand for an endothelial cell differentiation gene family receptor is at least one selected from the group consisting of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and salts thereof and has a concentration of 0.25 to 10 μM in the medium, and said ligand for a serotonin receptor has a concentration of 0.25 to 20 μM in the medium. 
     
     
         6 . The medium according to  claim 1 , wherein said ligand for a serotonin receptor is at least one selected from the group consisting of serotonin and salts thereof; and agonists of serotonin receptors. 
     
     
         7 . The medium according to  claim 1 , further comprising an antioxidant. 
     
     
         8 . The medium according to  claim 7 , wherein said antioxidant is at least one selected from the group consisting of N-acetylcysteine and L-cysteine. 
     
     
         9 . The medium according to  claim 7 , wherein the concentration of said antioxidant is 0.01 mM to 10 mM. 
     
     
         10 . The medium according to  claim 1 , further comprising an animal serum albumin. 
     
     
         11 . The medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of said serum albumin in the medium is 0.0001 to 10% by weight. 
     
     
         12 . The medium according to  claim 1 , further comprising a growth factor. 
     
     
         13 . The medium according to  claim 12 , wherein said growth factor is at least one selected from the group consisting of platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs), basic fibroblast growth factors (bFGFs) and epidermal growth factors (EGFs). 
     
     
         14 . The medium according to  claim 13 , comprising two types of said growth factors which are a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the medium. 
     
     
         15 . The medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the concentration of said growth factor in the medium is 0.1 to 100 ng/mL. 
     
     
         16 . An additive for a medium for mammalian somatic cells, said additive comprising a ligand for an endothelial cell differentiation gene (Edg) family receptor and a ligand for a serotonin receptor. 
     
     
         17 . The additive according to  claim 16 , wherein said ligand for an endothelial cell differentiation gene family receptor is at least one selected from the group consisting of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and salts thereof; sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P); and agonists of endothelial cell differentiation gene (Edg) family receptors. 
     
     
         18 . The additive according to  claim 16 , wherein said ligand for a serotonin receptor is at least one selected from the group consisting of serotonin and salts thereof; and agonists of serotonin receptors. 
     
     
         19 . The additive according to  claim 16 , further comprising an antioxidant. 
     
     
         20 . The additive according to  claim 16 , further comprising an animal serum albumin. 
     
     
         21 . The additive according to  claim 16 , further comprising a growth factor. 
     
     
         22 . The additive according to  claim 16 , having a composition which provides a medium for mammalian somatic cells comprising a ligand for an endothelial cell differentiation gene (Edg) family receptor and a ligand for a serotonin receptor when dissolved in water or a basal medium. 
     
     
         23 . A method for culturing mammalian somatic cells, said method comprising culturing of the mammalian somatic cells in the medium according to  claim 1 .