Cell Line Immortalization Service

Overview

Positioned between cancer-derived cell lines and primary cells dissociated from animal tissues, immortalized cell lines exhibit extended proliferative capacity while largely retaining the morphology and phenotypic characteristics of cultured primary cells, providing a more cost-effective and consistent approach for a wide range of neuroscience research applications.

The limit of primary cultures

Like all normal diploid cells, most primary cell cultures enter senescence after only a few replication cycles, leading to activation of tumor suppressor proteins such as p53 and Rb, and eventually to cell death. As such, new cultures must be frequently established from fresh tissues, which is not only time-consuming but also tends to introduce culture-to-culture variation. A solution to this dilemma is to "immortalize" these cells so that they can undergo additional replication cycles without losing too many phenotypic characteristics.

Creating Immortalized Cell Lines with the Right Strategies

A major factor contributing to cell senescence is telomere shortening. Consequently, many immortalization approaches aim to maintain telomere length in primary cells. For example, transducing cells with Simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen can induce telomerase activity; well-established protocols have made this strategy one of the most reliable methods across various cell types. Alternatively, increasing telomerase abundance through exogenous expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) can help maintain sufficient telomere length. Although hTERT-based methods were developed later than SV40-based approaches and their success is highly cell-type dependent, cells immortalized in this way often exhibit more stable phenotypic traits. In some cases, hTERT overexpression is combined with tumor suppressor pathway modulation to achieve better results in cell types resistant to hTERT-mediated immortalization alone. Contact us now to get expert opinions on how to choose the best strategy for your study goals!

Delivering Immortalization Agents with the Right Viral Vector

To achieve optimal expression efficiency, exogenous genes are introduced into primary cells via viral transduction. Common viral vectors include adenoviral, lentiviral, and gamma-retroviral systems. Each type exhibits distinct properties that make it best suited for specific cell types and immortalization strategies. For example, lentiviral and gamma-retroviral vectors provide stable expression due to their ability to integrate into the host genome, whereas adenoviral vectors typically offer high transduction efficiency through strong transient expression. Our expert scientists can help you select the most appropriate viral vector for your immortalization project. Contact us today to get your free consultation!

What We Offer

Our current portfolio includes immortalized cell lines derived from various tissues in both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS). These cells are selected using puromycin and authenticated by capillary gel electrophoresis–based short tandem repeat (STR) profiling; cell type–specific markers are further identified and confirmed through immunostaining. Please see the table below for our featured products and click here to view the full catalog of our ready-to-use immortalized cell lines.

Got a rare primary culture that you want to immortalize? We are proud to offer reliable and tailored immortalization services for your cells. See below for details and contact us today to discuss your project!

FAQs

1. What are the advantages of immortalized cell lines compared to primary cells?

   Immortalized cell lines combine the physiological relevance of primary cells with extended proliferative capacity. Unlike primary cultures, which undergo senescence after only a few passages, immortalized cells can replicate for significantly longer while retaining key phenotypic characteristics. This provides a more consistent, cost-effective solution for long-term neuroscience research.

2. How do you immortalize primary cells?

   We use established telomere-maintenance strategies to extend cellular lifespan. Common approaches include SV40 T antigen–mediated immortalization and exogenous expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). In some cases, pathway modulation strategies are combined to enhance efficiency, particularly for cell types resistant to single-method approaches.

3. Which viral vectors do you use for gene delivery?

   To ensure optimal expression efficiency, we introduce exogenous genes via viral transduction using adenoviral, lentiviral, or gamma-retroviral vectors. Lentiviral and gamma-retroviral systems provide stable genomic integration, while adenoviral vectors are typically used for high transient expression. Our scientists select the most suitable vector based on your specific cell type and project goals.

4. How do you authenticate and validate your immortalized cell lines?

   Our cell lines undergo puromycin selection and are authenticated using STR profiling via capillary gel electrophoresis. We further confirm cell identity by validating cell type–specific markers through immunostaining to ensure reliability and reproducibility.

5. Can you immortalize rare or difficult primary cultures?

   Yes. We offer tailored immortalization services designed specifically for rare, precious, or hard-to-transduce primary cultures. Our team evaluates the biological characteristics of your cells and develops a customized strategy to maximize success while preserving key phenotypic traits.