I n 1962 two scientists established the NIH3T3 cell line from embryonic Swiss mouse tissue. The derived cells are a type of murine embryonic fibroblast cell (MEF). The MEF cells are used for the titration of viruses from mouse tissue and organs. They are also used to cultivate keratinocytes and to act as "feeder" cells in human embryonic stem cells. For research purposes, this cell line is a good transfection host because it is susceptible to leukemia and sarcoma viruses. Altogen Biosystems offers a NIH3T3 cell line reagent that has a high transfection efficiency - it is a lipid-based reagent that was detected by qRT-PCR to confirm high efficiency. Transfection Reagent for NIH3T3 Cells (Swiss Mouse Fibroblast Cells, CRL-1658)