3T3 cells are several cell lines of mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The original 3T3 cell line (3T3-Swiss albino) was established in 1962 by two scientists then at the Department of Pathology in the New York University School of Medicine, George Todaro and Howard Green. Todaro and Green originally obtained their 3T3 cells from Swiss albino mouse embryo tissue.[1] Later, as a principal investigator position at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, Todaro repeated the isolation procedure from the NIH Swiss mouse embryo with his students and established NIH-3T3 cell line.[2]
The '3T3' designation refers to the abbreviation of "3-day transfer, inoculum 3×105 cells." This cell line was originally established from the primary mouse embryonic fibroblast cells that were cultured by the designated protocol, so-called '3T3 protocol'. The primary mouse embryonic fibroblast cells were transferred (the "T") every 3 days (the first "3"), and inoculated at the rigid density of 3×105 cells per 20cm2 dish (the second "3") continuously.[2] The spontaneously immortalized cells with stable growth rate were established after 20 to 30 generations in culture, and then named '3T3' cells. Since then, several cell lines have been established with this procotol:[3]
3T3-Swiss albino, the original 1962 cell line
3T3-J2, a subclone of 3T3-Swiss albino, commonly used as feeders for keratinocyte cultures[4]
Swiss 3T3 can be inhibited by temazepam and other benzodiazepines. These cells are also contact inhibited. The cells are sensitive to sarcoma virus and leukemia virus focus formation. 3T3 cells can be transformed with SV40 and some other polyomaviruses.[6]
Culture characteristics
Adherent cells grow as a monolayer. A confluent monolayer yields 40,000 cells/cm2. [7]
3T3 mouse cells are hypertriploid. The modal chromosome number is 68, which occurs in 30% of cells. Higher ploidies occur at a much lower rate of 2.4%.[7]
↑ Rheinwatd, James G.; Green, Howard (November 1975). "Seria cultivation of strains of human epidemal keratinocytes: the formation keratinizin colonies from single cell is". Cell. 6 (3): 331–343. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(75)80001-8. PMID1052771. S2CID53294766.
↑ Green, Howard; Kehinde, Olaniyi (March 1974). "Sublines of mouse 3T3 cells that accumulate lipid". Cell. 1 (3): 113–116. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(74)90126-3.
3T3 cells are an immortalized fibroblast cell line originally derived in 1963, and are widely used in biological research for studies of cell growth, cancer, and adipogenesis.
History and Origin
The 3T3 line was first established by George Todaro and Howard Green, who developed a protocol of transferring mouse embryo fibroblasts every three days at a specific density, which led to immortalized cultures.
Characteristics
3T3 cells are adherent fibroblasts that exhibit rapid proliferation, stable karyotypes, and a high capacity for transfection, which makes them useful for research purposes.
Subtypes/Derivatives
Several sublines of 3T3 cells have been developed, including NIH-3T3, 3T3-Swiss albino, and 3T3-L1, which are each altered for different experimental purposes.
Research Applications
3T3 cells are widely used in cancer research, as transfection hosts, and in studies of adipocyte differentiation where 3T3-L1 cells are the standard for in vitro adipogenesis.
Modern Developments
Recent Studies have used 3T3 cells to investigate obesity, cell signaling, and cancer transformation, which shows how the cell line remains relevant for current research.
References
Key references include the original 1963 description of the line, ATCC cell line resources, and recent primary research articles using 3T3 sublines.
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