EOC 20

EOC‑20 is a murine microglial cell line that was developed in the mid‑1990s from LADMAC‑conditioned medium. It requires CSF‑1 (also known as colony‑stimulating factor 1) for growth and proliferation, which is provided by LADMAC‑conditioned medium. Cells show a semi‑adherent morphology with round to oval somata of approximately 10-12 µm diameter and a relatively large nucleus; they form loose clusters. Cells are typically maintained in DMEM with 10 % fetal bovine serum and 20 % L‑292 conditioned medium, at 37 °C in a humidified 5 % CO₂ incubator; under these conditions, the population doubling time is approximately 24-30 hours, with routine passaging at a 1:2-1:3 ratio every 2-3 days. EOC‑20 cells express typical microglial markers, including CD11b, F4/80, I‑ba1, and MHC II, which is up‑regulated following stimulation with IFN‑γ.

These cells also respond to inflammatory stimuli (LPS, TNF‑α, IFN‑γ) by producing nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and pro‑inflammatory cytokines such as IL‑1β and TNF‑α. EOC‑20 cells retain strong phagocytic capacity as determined by fluorescent bead uptake assays. For these reasons, EOC‑20 cells have been used extensively to investigate microglial signaling cascades (e.g., NF‑κB, MAPK, JAK/STAT), screen for anti‑inflammatory or neuroprotective agents, and model aspects of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In addition, this line is highly amenable to genetic manipulation, allowing detailed studies of key genes involved in microglial activation, including TLR4, NLRP3, and CX3CR1.