Fibroblasts are mesenchymal cells derived from the embryonic mesoderm. They have been extensively used for a wide range of cellular and molecular studies as they are one of the easiest types of cells to grow in culture. Their durability also makes them amenable to a wide variety of manipulations ranging from studies employing gene transfection to microinjection. There is evidence that fibroblasts in various parts of the body are intrinsically different. Fibroblasts secrete a non-rigid extracellular matrix that is rich in type I and/or type III collagen. They are responsible for much of the synthesis of extracellular matrix in connective tissues and play major roles in wound healing. Many diseases are associated with fibroblasts, either because fibroblasts are implicated in their etiology or because of the fibrosis that accompanies damage to other cell types. The thyroid is easily susceptible to inflammatory autoimmune diseases which can result in tissue damage, suggesting that thyroid fibroblasts may play an important role in regulating thyroid function and response to disease. HThF from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human thyroid tissue. HThF are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. HThF are characterized by their spindle morphology and immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to fibronectin. HThF are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HThF are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories. Recommended Medium It is recommended to use Fibroblast Medium (FM, Cat. #2301) for the culturing of HThF in vitro.