Growing and expanding primary, differentiated adult cells in culture is difficult and laborious because many differentiated cells can only be maintained in vitro for a limited period of time. However, for controlled experiments, it may be necessary to maintain a consistent population of cells. Maintaining a population of adult stem cells (ASCs), allows one to exponentially propagate a population of cells in vitro, and induce differentiation when desired. This is possible with SACK cell strains and specified cell culture conditions. SACK ASC cell properties – Long-term propagation in xanthosine (Xs)-supplemented medium Suppressed asymmetric cell kinetics Differentiated progeny cell properties – Xs-free medium supplemented with 10% rat serum, confluent monolayer; or serum reduction and Xs-free medium supplemented with 10% bovine serum Biliary Properties Albumin expression, but no secretionAlpha-fetoprotein secretionCK7 expression (biliary epithelial cell marker) Form tubules with polarized cells (e.g., luminal microvilli)

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