MOVAS Cell Line

Brief Introduction
Product List

General Information
Organism	Mus musculus, mouse
Cell Line Description	MOVAS is an immortalized murine vascular smooth muscle cell line established in 1999. Derived from the aortas of C57BL/6 mice, the cell line was immortalized via retroviral transduction using a construct carrying the Simian Virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen under the control of the pLXSN retroviral vector. MOVAS cells exhibit a spindle or elongated morphology and grow as an adherent monolayer; upon reaching confluence, they display the classic "hill-and-valley" growth pattern characteristic of vascular smooth muscle cells. Globally recognized as an indispensable model for studying vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) biology, MOVAS is widely used in cardiovascular research, vascular biology, and the study of metabolic diseases. It serves as a primary in vitro platform for investigating vascular calcification, arterial remodeling, atherosclerosis, phenotypic switching (transition from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype), and cytokine-driven vascular inflammation.
Tissue	Blood Vessel; derived from Aorta
Cell Type	Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell (VSMC)
Strain	C57BL/6
Disease	Normal / Transgenic Vascular Smooth Muscle Model
Morphology	Fibroblastic / Spindle-shaped; displays characteristic "hill-and-valley" architecture at confluence
Gender	Unspecified
Age	Adult
Product Format	Frozen
Growth Mode	Adherent
Biosafety Level	2 (BSL-2 is required globally because the cells were immortalized using a retroviral vector carrying SV40 large T-antigen sequences)
Applications	1. A "gold standard" in vitro mouse model for studying the mechanisms of vascular calcification, osteogenic transdifferentiation, and inorganic phosphate (Pi)-induced matrix mineralization; 2. Elucidating the dynamic process of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic switching (i.e., the transition between contractile and synthetic/pro-inflammatory states); 3. Simulating the processes of atherosclerotic plaque formation, vascular stiffening, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling; 4. Investigating VSMC migration, proliferation, and apoptosis under conditions of mechanical stretch, oxidative stress, or high glucose; 5. Screening novel cardiovascular therapeutic agents, anti-calcification drugs, and anti-inflammatory compounds targeting the arterial wall.
Shipped In	Dry ice
Storage Temperature	−196°C
Characteristics
Tumorigenic	No, non-tumorigenic under standard physiological baselines; serves as a functional model for non-malignant vascular biology.
Transformant	Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (introduced via the pLXSN retroviral vector and selected under G418/neomycin pressure).
Phenotypic Markers	Endogenously express smooth muscle cell lineage markers, including alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA/ACTA2), smooth muscle protein 22-alpha (SM22α/TAGLN), and calponin. Express functional receptors for PDGF and TGF-β.
Calcification Response	It is highly sensitive to elevated extracellular calcium and phosphate concentrations. Exposure to high-phosphate medium (2.0-3.0 mM Pi) induces the rapid downregulation of smooth muscle markers, the upregulation of osteogenic transcription factors (Runx2, MSX2, osteopontin), and significant calcium phosphate deposition.
Growth Kinetics	Robust adherent expansion; typical population doubling time spans approximately 20 to 30 hours.
Mycoplasma Test	Negative
Culture Conditions and Handling
Subculturing	1. Completely aspirate and discard the old complete culture medium from the culture vessel. 2. Gently wash the cell monolayer with sterile PBS (lacking Ca2+ and Mg2+) to remove residual serum containing trypsin inhibitors. 3. Add 1.0 to 2.5 mL of 0.25% trypsin-0.53 mM (0.02%) EDTA solution, pre-warmed to the appropriate temperature, ensuring the cell layer is completely covered. 4. Incubate at 37°C for 2 to 5 minutes; monitor under an inverted microscope until the cells become rounded and fully detach. 5. Add an equal volume of pre-warmed complete growth medium to immediately neutralize trypsin activity. 6. Gently pipette the cell suspension to mix, then centrifuge at approximately 125 × g for 5 minutes; carefully discard the supernatant, gently resuspend the cells in fresh complete growth medium, and distribute them into new culture vessels.
Thawing Protocol Note	MOVAS cells are sensitive to pH changes during early post-thaw recovery. Prior to introducing thawed vial contents, place the culture vessel containing fresh complete growth medium into the 5% CO2 incubator for at least 15 minutes to allow the medium to equilibrate to its physiological pH range (7.0 to 7.6).
Medium Renewal	2 to 3 times per week
Subcultivation Ratio	Split confluent cultures (80-90% density) at a standard ratio of 1:3 to 1:8. Maintain active growth by subculturing before cells become overly dense and quiescent.
Culture Conditions	Atmosphere: Air, 95%; CO2, 5%; Temperature: 37°C
Cryopreservation	90% Complete culture growth medium + 10% DMSO (or 50% High-Glucose DMEM + 40% FBS + 10% DMSO)

Cat.No.	Product Name	Price
CSC-RR00803	Luciferase Reporter Cell Line - MOVAS	Inquiry
CSC-RR00804	GFP Reporter Cell Line - MOVAS	Inquiry

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* For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.

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