U-937 scale up - (Nov/13/2009 )

I am planing to work with U937 cells. I want to use PMA to differentiate. Could you please tell me the best concn of PMA...ng/mL for the differentiation? How fresh PMA do we need? do we need to prepare every time we use or we can keep in refrigerator and use for 2/3 months? I would appreciate any kind of help regarding the culture and differentiation of this cell line. thank you

I've just started using PMA for my U937 cells. They tend to clump and some might adhere if you add about 10 nM of PMA. They are quite easily detachable - just a bang on the flask will get it off.
Some journals I read use 10-100 nM range.

I'm not too sure about the extent of how fresh your PMA needs to be, but assuming it's stored in freezer and dissolved in DMSO, it should be alright.
You should ideally use a new frozen aliquot every time you want to differentiate these cells.

I'm not sure if it's just me, but I realised that these cells tend to stop growing after you add PMA. It might be different under the hands of others, but that's just what I've realised.