We are offering service for the immortalization of primary cells. We employ the most comprehensive cell immortalization products that include recombinant lenti-, retro- and adenoviruses expressing SV40 T antigen, Myc, Ras, and siRNA for silencing p53 and Rb. All these tools make our cell immortalization process simpler and easier than ever before. We can significantly extend replicative capacity of your target cells.

Primary mammalian cells reach senescence after a certain number of population doublings, and that is a limiting factor for cell culture maintenance. Re-establishing fresh cultures from explanted tissue is a tedious process. Immortalized cells have extended replicative capacity and can be used consistently throughout the entire research project.

Immortalization methods include transduction of mammalian cells with vectors bearing viral genes, such as Simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen, Epstein Barr virus (EBV), Adenovirus E1A and E1B, and human Papilomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7. SV40 T antigen has been shown to be the most simple and reliable agent for the transformation of many different cell types in culture. For the most part, viral genes induce immortalization by inactivating the tumor suppressor genes (p53, Rb and others) that can cause a replicative senescent state in cells. Recent studies have also shown that SV40 T antigen can induce telomerase activity in the infected cells.