Cell Lines

Cell lines are populations of cells derived from a primary culture that have the capacity to proliferate indefinitely under specific laboratory conditions. These cells are widely used in biomedical research, drug discovery, and biotechnology due to their reproducibility and ease of manipulation. Cell lines can be classified into finite and continuous types, depending on their ability to undergo division.

Content on Cell Lines

• Characteristics: Cell lines retain specific properties of their tissue of origin, making them valuable for studying physiological and pathological processes. For example, HeLa cells are epithelial cells derived from human cervical cancer, while CHO cells are commonly used in protein production.
• Types:
  • Adherent Cells: Require attachment to a substrate for growth (e.g., epithelial cells).
  • Suspension Cells: Grow freely in culture medium (e.g., hematopoietic cells).
• Authentication: STR profiling, karyotyping, and mycoplasma testing are essential to confirm the identity and purity of cell lines to prevent cross-contamination and misidentification.

Applications of Cell Lines

• Drug Discovery and Development:
  • High-throughput screening for therapeutic compounds.
  • Evaluation of drug efficacy and toxicity.
• Genetic Studies:
  • CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing.
  • Understanding gene expression and regulation.
• Protein Production:
  • Expression systems such as CHO and HEK293 cells are used for producing recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines.
• Cancer Research:
  • Study of tumor biology and metastasis using cancer cell lines.
  • Testing potential anti-cancer agents.

Cell lines are indispensable tools in modern biological research, providing consistent, reproducible models for a wide range of scientific investigations.