HER2-expressing Raji Cells

HER2-expressing B cells

Raji-HER2 cells were developed from the human Raji cell line, a human B lymphocyte-derived cell line, and engineered to stably overexpress the human HER2 gene. Raji cells have been successfully used as target cells in human effector studies such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), either with peripheral blood mononuclear cells, natural killer (NK) cells, or T cell-derived Jurkat reporter cells.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), also known as ERBB2 or neu, is a member of the EGFR/ERBB family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Due to its overexpression on the surface of not only breast cancer cells but a variety of solid tumors, HER2 is both an oncogene and a tumor-associated antigen [1, 2]. Heterodimerization of HER2 with other members of the EGFR family results in the activation of a variety of potent proliferative and anti-apoptotic signaling pathways. Therefore, HER2 is a major driver of tumor development and progression [1]. There is a variety of approved monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies (e.g. Trastuzumab) successfully used in the treatment of HER2-positive cancers (e.g. breast and gastric) [2]. Thus, HER2 remains an important therapeutic target for the development of more potent mAbs, specifically with optimized effector functions for improved tumor-directed ADCC [2].

Features of Raji-HER2 cells:

• Stable overexpression of the human HER2 gene
• Characterized by a number of cell-surface expressed markers including the B cell receptor (BCR), CD19, and CD20
• Constitutive expression of various immune checkpoints (ICs) such as CD27, CD70, CD80, PD-L1, and 4-1BBL

Applications for Raji-HER2 cells:

• Target cell line for ADCC assays using InvivoGen's Jurkat-Lucia™ NFAT-CD16 cells
• Target cell line for cell toxicity assays using NK or CAR-T cells
• For use in the development of other functional assays

Validation of Raji-HER2 cells:

• Overexpression of HER2 verified by flow cytometry
• Functionally tested as target cells in ADCC assays using anti-human HER2 mAbs and Jurkat-Lucia™ NFAT-CD16 cells
• Guaranteed mycoplasma-free

​References:

1. Gutierrez, C. & Schiff, R. 2011. HER2: biology, detection, and clinical implications. Arch Pathol Lab Med 135, 55-62.
2. Oh, D.Y. & Bang, Y.J. 2020. HER2-targeted therapies - a role beyond breast cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 17, 33-48.