Serum-free culture of human hepatoma Hep G2 cells with egg yolk low density lipoprotein.

We prepared serum-free medium supplemented with growth factors, hormones, nutrients, and egg yolk low density lipoprotein (LDL), and examined the growth-promoting activities of growth factors and culture conditions on human hepatoma Hep G2 cells. Collagen type I was appropriate for precoating tissue culture vessels in which Hep G2 cells were cultured in serum-free medium. William's medium E and a mixture of Dulbecco and Vogt's modification of Eagle's medium and Ham's F-12 (1:1) were used as basal medium. LDL was the most effective growth promoter of Hep G2 cells among the supplemented factors. High density lipoprotein (HDL) prepared from human serum showed 10 times more growth promoting activity than LDL, but HDL is more expensive. Therefore, the serum-free medium supplemented with growth factors, hormones, nutrients, and egg yolk LDL was suitable for Hep G2 cell culture.