HEK293-CLDN18.2

Disclaimer: The prices displayed for cell lines are exclusively for academic/not-for-profit customers. For commercial entitites the price is approximately €6,250.
If you represent a commercial entity or are unsure which category applies, please contact us.

HEK293-CLDN18.2 cells are human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells engineered to stably express human claudin 18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2), a tight junction-associated transmembrane protein belonging to the claudin family. CLDN18.2 is a gastric lineage-specific isoform normally restricted to differentiated gastric mucosal epithelial cells, where its extracellular domains are largely inaccessible under physiological conditions. In malignant transformation, disruption of epithelial polarity and tight junction architecture exposes CLDN18.2 on the tumor cell surface, leading to its overexpression and accessibility in several cancers, including gastric adenocarcinoma, gastroesophageal junction cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other gastrointestinal malignancies. Because of its highly restricted normal tissue distribution and tumor-associated exposure, CLDN18.2 has emerged as a clinically important therapeutic target in oncology.

HEK293-CLDN18.2 cells are widely used for development and characterization of CLDN18.2-targeted therapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies, and targeted imaging agents. The stable recombinant expression system enables quantitative analysis of antigen binding affinity, epitope specificity, receptor density, internalization kinetics, and target-dependent cytotoxicity. These cells are also commonly employed in flow cytometry assays, reporter assays, antibody screening workflows, and immune effector functional studies designed to evaluate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Because HEK293 cells support robust recombinant membrane protein expression and efficient propagation, they provide a reliable platform for standardized CLDN18.2 assay development and therapeutic validation.

37°C, 5% CO₂, humidified atmosphere.

After thawing, split the cells at a ratio of 1:2 to 1:3 in T25 flasks and allow the cells to recover from the freezing process and to adhere (for adherent cultures) for at least 24 hours.

1. Confirm that the vial remains deeply frozen upon delivery, as cells are shipped on dry ice to maintain optimal temperatures during transit.

2. Upon receipt, either store the cryovial immediately at temperatures below -150°C to ensure the preservation of cellular integrity, or proceed to step 3 if immediate culturing is required.

3. For immediate culturing, swiftly thaw the vial by immersing it in a 37°C water bath with clean water and an antimicrobial agent, agitating gently for 40-60 seconds until a small ice clump remains.

4. Perform all subsequent steps under sterile conditions in a flow hood, disinfecting the cryovial with 70% ethanol before opening.

5. Carefully open the disinfected vial and transfer the cell suspension into a 15 ml centrifuge tube containing 8 ml of room-temperature culture medium, mixing gently.

6. Centrifuge the mixture at 300 x g for 3 minutes to separate the cells and carefully discard the supernatant containing residual freezing medium.

7. Gently resuspend the cell pellet in 10 ml of fresh culture medium. For adherent cells, divide the suspension between two T25 culture flasks; for suspension cultures, transfer all the medium into one T25 flask to promote effective cell interaction and growth.

8. Adhere to established subculture protocols for continued growth and maintenance of the cell line, ensuring reliable experimental outcomes.

Mycoplasma contamination is excluded using both PCR-based assays and luminescence-based mycoplasma detection methods.

To ensure there is no bacterial, fungal, or yeast contamination, cell cultures are subjected to daily visual inspections.

For long-term preservation, place vials in vapor-phase liquid nitrogen at about −150 to −196 °C. Storage at −80 °C is acceptable only as a short interim step before transfer to liquid nitrogen.

Cryopreserved cell lines are shipped on dry ice in validated, insulated packaging with sufficient refrigerant to maintain approximately −78 °C throughout transit. On receipt, inspect the container immediately and transfer vials without delay to appropriate storage.

At Cytion, we stand behind the quality and viability of our products. We guarantee that our cells will be viable at the start of culture for 60 days after shipment from our facilities. We assure that all materials conform to the specifications described in the Certificate of Analysis and/or Product Sheet.

For full details, please refer to our Warranty Statement.