Table 1 of
Seigel, Mol Vis 2014; 20:301-306. Table 1 of
Seigel, Mol Vis 2014; 20:301-306.
Table 1. Advantages and Limitations of R28 cells.
| Characteristics | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Immortalized | Unlimited lifespan Can be grown in large numbers Can survive long-term storage in liquid nitrogen Not tumorigenic in vivo | Immortalization affects gene expression and morphology Not the same as primary retinal cells Expresses geneticin resistance, so stable transfection requires another selection marker |
| Rat retinal origin | Mammalian retinal cells Compatible with rat models | Not the same as human retinal cells Some antibodies of interest may not be available in a rat-specific format |
| Heterogeneous | May more closely simulate a retinal explant or in vivo retina with multiple cell types Diversity of cell types can respond to a variety of stimuli Considered a retinal precursor cell line with differentiation potential | The degree of heterogeneity is unknown and may depend on culture conditions. Not a homogeneous cell line as desired for some applications |