HEK 293 cells

HEK stands for "Human Embryonic Kidney " cells, ie, human embryonic kidney cells (HEK ). HEK cell line is also known as HEK- 293 or 293 cells. HEK cells are used in cell biology for many years as a relatively easy -to-use cell line.

Definition

HEK- 293 is an existing since the early 1970s, human cell line, which was as a transformation product of a human embryonic kidney cell (Human Embryonic Kidney ) created with DNA parts of the human adenovirus 5. Specifically, were incorporated into the genetic material of the cell renal 4.5 kilobases of the viral genome. HEK -293 are hypotriploide epithelial cells, which grow adherent. HEK -293 cell line, is frequently used in the development of viral vaccines, chemotherapeutic agents, as well as for the production of recombinant adenovirus vectors. It can be well cultivated in serum-free media.

Importance in research

Since they were artificially transformed, that is, their artificially characteristics of a cancer cell were given by the foreign DNA was introduced, it is only of limited use as a model. This is however offset by the ease with which they can be cultured and transfected. As long as more the behavior of the components within the cell as the behavior of the cell to be of interest, they are well suited as a study object.

Interestingly, HEK cells are particularly suitable for virology. As HEK cells, conditionally expressing the original transformation with an adenovirus, adenovirus - specific genes, they can also be used for the propagation of adenoviruses. A specific version of the HEK -293 cells, 293T cells, in addition, the " SV40 large T antigen ," which enables the DNA replication of episomal plasmids with the " SV40 origin of replication " expressed. Thus, certain retroviruses, such as lentiviruses, or DNA viruses can replicate in 293T cells. In the follow-up studies of basic research to binding, infection and replication of several viruses (eg human papillomaviruses ) are performed in 293T cells.

Historical Aspects

HEK cells were prepared from the early 1960s. Harvey Shein (Harvard University) has transformed 1962 kidney tissues of 2-3 month-old fetuses, newborn and 2-3 month old infants with SV -40 and Harald zur Hausen (then at the University of Philadelphia ) in 1967 kidney tissues of human embryos with adenovirus Type -12 transfected. Zur Hausen HEK- tribes, which he received from a laboratory at the NIH, but could not initially be grown free of serum.

The HEK 293 cell line T created in 1973 at the laboratory of Alex J. van der Eb at Leiden University. Participation was also the Canadian post-doctoral researcher Frank L. Graham.

The original cell line is HEK- contaminated with HeLa cells and is no longer used.

Swell

• Harald zur Hausen: Induction of specific chromosomal aberrations by adenovirus type 12 in human embryonic kidney cells. Journal of Virology, 1967 Dec; 1 (6) :1174-85 PMID 5621489
• Harvey M. Shein et al: Transformation induced by simian virus 40 in human renal cell cultures. Morphology and growth characteristics. PNAS 1962 July 15; 48:1164-72. PMID 13911592

• Cell line