WI 38 VA13 subline 2RA Cells

The WI-38 VA13 subline 2RA, derived from the historic WI-38 cell line originally sourced from the lung tissue of a 3-month-old fetus, represents a key advancement in cell culture technology. The original WI-38 cell line was crucial in developing vaccines for numerous viral diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis A. The VA13 subline 2RA is an immortalized variant of this cell line, achieved through transformation with Simian Virus 40 (SV40), a practice common in the development of immortal cell lines which allows for indefinite cell replication beyond the standard senescence point of about 50 population doublings.

The incorporation of SV40 into the WI-38 cells to create the VA13 subline 2RA extends the cells’ lifespan, providing a more durable model for long-term experiments. This transformation maintains the fundamental properties of the original diploid cells but alters their lifecycle and growth patterns, enabling sustained growth and facilitating extensive studies that were not possible with the finite lifespan of the parent cell line. This makes the VA13 subline particularly useful in ongoing and extensive research areas, including virology, pharmacology, and genetic research, where extended observation periods are necessary.