C17.2 Cells

The C17.2 cell line is a neural progenitor line derived from the mouse cerebellum using retroviral-mediated oncogene transfer with the avian myc gene. It is one of several lines developed to study the differentiation potential of neural progenitor cells, particularly focusing on neuron and glial cell lineages. C17.2 cells exhibit key characteristics of neural progenitors and can differentiate into both neuronal and glial cells under appropriate conditions, making them valuable for studies on neural development, neurogenesis, and gliogenesis.
One defining feature of C17.2 is its potential to differentiate into distinct neural cell types while maintaining mitotic potential, allowing for extended culture and experimental manipulation. This line expresses markers characteristic of neural stem and progenitor cells and can be induced to express lineage-specific markers depending on the differentiation protocol. The stability and multipotency of C17.2 enable its use in examining factors affecting lineage commitment in neural cells, as well as its application in neural repair and regeneration research.
Researchers employ C17.2 cells in both in vitro and in vivo contexts to understand mechanisms controlling cell fate within the central nervous system (CNS). In addition, the line’s well-characterized gene integration sites and consistent expression of specific neural markers make it a reliable model for neurodevelopmental studies and for exploring the potential therapeutic roles of neural progenitor cells in neurodegenerative disease models.