HEK293

The HEK293 cell line, an immortalized epithelial cell line derived from human embryonic kidney cells in the 1970s by Alex van der Eb at the University of Utrecht, has become a pivotal experimental model in molecular biology and biotechnological applications due to its remarkable versatility and ease of genetic manipulation.

The transformation of the HEK293 cell line involved the integration of a specific segment from Adenovirus 5 DNA, embedding the adenoviral E1A and E1B genes within the cellular genome. The adenoviral DNA modification enabled the cell lines' ability to uptake foreign DNA efficiently, a feature known as high transfection efficiency. The integration of viral DNA into the HEK293 cell genome resulted in cellular immortalization and significantly enhanced the utility of these cells in biotechnological applications by facilitating the stable incorporation and expression of exogenous DNA, a process termed stable transfection. This capability allows for the persistent presence and function of foreign genes within the cells, making HEK293 an invaluable tool for genetic studies and biotechnology.

As a result, HEK293 cells have become a fundamental resource in biotechnology for the production of recombinant proteins, including vital therapeutic proteins, and serving as robust host cells for the generation of viral vectors, particularly adenoviral and lentiviral vectors. HEK 293 cells are pivotal in the pharmaceutical industry for high-throughput screening assays, the manufacture of gene therapies targeting specific genes related to single gene disorders, and adenoviral infection studies. 

In industrial biotechnology, the utility of the human cell line HEK293 extends to recombinant enzyme production, viral vector production, such as adenoviral vectors, protein production and the development of biosensors. Toxicology research benefits from the application of the HEK cell line in assessing the impacts of chemicals on cell biology, including the effects on typical kidney cells and the potential for gene therapies. The ability of the immortal cell line HEK293 to efficiently produce native proteins highlights their essential role in medical research, including cancer research and exploring the foundations of gene therapy.

HEK293 cells offer a unique platform for studying cell biology and proteins of interest, surpassing other cell lines in versatility and utility in both research and industrial applications. In comparison, HEK293T cells, a variant of HEK293, are modified to enhance transfection efficiency, HEK293F cells are adapted for suspension culture to facilitate large-scale protein production, and other mammalian cell lines such as Vero cells, derived from monkey kidney tissue, are primarily utilized in vaccine development and viral studies.

37°C, 5% CO₂, humidified atmosphere.

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.