Indispensability of Iron for the Growth of Cultured Chick Cells. (iron/transition metal/transferrin/chick embryonic cell/myogenesis)

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Abstract
To clarify the role of Fe in the growth promoting effect of transferrin (Tf), the effects of the following substances were examined in cultured chick skeletal myogenic cells: transition metal ions (Fe2+, Fe3+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Mn2+, CO2+, Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+), Tf complexes with these metals and metal-free apoTf. The cells did not grow well when incubated in a culture medium composed of Eagle''s minimum essential medium and horse serum, but grew well in the presence of Fe2+ or Fe3+ (10-100 .mu.M), or Fe-bound Tf (10-500 nM) in the medium. None of the transition metal ions other than Fe was effective. Neither apoTf nor Tf complexes with these metals showed the growth promoting effect. The generality of the requirement of Fe for cell growth was ascertained in the primary culture of other types of chick embryonic cells:fibroblasts, cardiac myocytes, retinal pigment cells and spinal nerve cells. Apparently, Fe is one of the indispensable substances for cell growth, and Tf protein plays a role in facilitating the transport of Fe into the cells.

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