Esophageal fibroblasts, which line the lamina propria of the upper and lower esophagus, are mesenchymal cells derived from the embryonic mesoderm. Fibroblasts secrete a non-rigid extracellular matrix that is both 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 a central role in wound healing. 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. In addition, their durability makes them amenable to a variety of manipulations ranging from gene transfection to microinjection. Esophageal fibroblasts have been shown to contribute to the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-induced angiogenesis through the TGF-β and VEGF signaling pathways. HEsF from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human esophageal tissue. HEsF are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. HEsF are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibody specific to fibronectin. HEsF are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HEsF 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 culturing HEsF in vitro.