Abstract

Through the process of cryopreservation, cells are stored at very low temperature for a long time to decrease the biological and chemical reactions in viable cells. In this process, the administration of cryoprotective agents is crucial since cryopreservation is regarded as a leading process in various research fields such as biotechnology, clinical medicine and maintenance of both animal and plant cells. Even after a long time of storage in very low temperatures, a recovery is achieved by cryo-preservative agents that act on cellular metabolism and biophysiology of cells. In the current study, the effect of boron on cryopreservation of human lung cancer cell line, A549, and murine fibroblast cell line, L929, was investigated with the help of cell viability assay, colony forming unit assay and RT-PCR analysis. 15 µg/ml boron supplemented freezing medium was found to indicate a positive effect on cell viability. Moreover, gene expression profiles of A549 and L929 cell lines have been altered. The levels of apoptosis related genes decreased while proliferation related gene levels increased significantly after repeated freeze-thaw cycles or long period of freezing. As indicated through our results, sodium pentaborate pentahydrate, as a boron source, might be a crucial cryoprotective agent for cryo-protection and bio-banking of cancer and healthy cells while keeping their viability and functionality.