Hydrocortisone is a glucocorticoid hormone with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects (Kang et al.; Langhoff & Ladefoged). It is also commonly used as a supplement for endothelial, epithelial, mesenchymal, or oligodendrocyte cell culture media, as it supports growth and differentiation. This product is supplied as the sodium salt of hydrocortisone 21-hemisuccinate, which is a more water-soluble form of hydrocortisone.

Hydrocortisone is required as a supplement in MyeloCult™ H5100 (Human; Catalog #05150) and MyeloCult™ M5300 (Mouse; Catalog #05350), for long-term cultures and the long-term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) assay. For complete instructions, refer to the Technical Manual for Human or Mouse LTC-IC Assays, available at www.stemcell.com or contact us to request a copy.

MAINTENANCE AND SELF-RENEWAL
· Enhances proliferation and self-renewal of limbal stem cells in explant cultures (Yu et al.).
· Supports long-term growth of immature human myeloid cells in culture (Salahuddin et al.).
· Increases the activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in mouse mammary epithelial cells in culture in the presence of insulin (Oka & Perry).

DIFFERENTIATION
· With ATRA, EGF, KGF, and HGF, promotes epithelial differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (Li et al.).
· Promotes differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived definitive endoderm toward lung alveolar epithelial cells (Mokhber Dezfouli et al.).

IMMUNOLOGY
· Inhibits the bioactivity of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IC₅₀ = 6.7 mM; Kang et al.).
·Suppresses the activity on phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes in vitro (Langhoff & Ladefoged).