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Cytofect™ Epithelial Cell Transfection Kit

Transfection  of  HEK (Top) and HMEpC (Bottom) with a GFP-expression plasmid using the Cytofect™ Epithelial Cell Transfection Kit.

Cytofect™ Epithelial Cell Transfection Kit

The Cytofect™ Epithelial Cell Transfection Kit is a plasmid DNA delivery system optimized specifically for primary epithelial cells.

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Description

CAI Box Total Kit

The Cytofect™ Epithelial Cell Transfection Kit is a plasmid DNA delivery system optimized specifically for primary epithelial cells. Primary epithelial cells form cohesive monolayers with tight junctional complexes, making them notoriously difficult to transfect while maintaining high cell viability and barrier integrity. The Cytofect™ system combines cationic lipid delivery with a replication-deficient Viral Enhancer to protect nucleic acids from lysosomal degradation and promote efficient nuclear transport. Under specified conditions, the kit routinely yields transfection efficiencies of 40–70% with cell viabilities between 70–95%.

Epithelial cells form continuous sheets that cover body surfaces, line internal organs and cavities, and form the secretory units and ducts of exocrine glands. The Cytofect™ system is validated across a broad range of primary human epithelial cell models:

  • Gastrointestinal & Digestive: Human Ascending Colon (HCnAEpC), Colon (HCnEpC), Duodenum (HDuEpC), Gastric (HGaEpC), Ileum (HIlEpC), Intestinal (HInEpC), and Jejunum (HJeEpC) Epithelial Cells.
  • Respiratory System: Human Bronchial (HBEpC), Small Airway (HSAEpC), and Tracheal (HTEpC) Epithelial Cells.
  • Renal & Urogenital System: Human Renal Glomerular (HRGEpC), Renal Proximal Tubular (HRPTEpC), Bladder (HBlEpC), Prostate (HPrEpC), and Urethra (HUEpC) Epithelial Cells.
  • Reproductive & Reproductive Support: Human Mammary (HMEpC) and Placental (HPlEpC) Epithelial Cells.
Epithelial tissue functions vary significantly by anatomical site. Intestinal epithelial cells establish selective mucosal barriers for nutrient absorption and pathogen defense. Airway epithelial cells drive mucociliary clearance via coordinated ciliary beating and mucus secretion. Renal epithelial cells regulate glomerular filtration, selective solute reabsorption, and fluid balance.

Epithelial monolayers are structurally defined by cell–cell adhesion complexes and tight junctions that regulate transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and paracellular permeability. In specialized respiratory culture systems, primary cells cultured at an air–liquid interface (ALI) undergo pseudostratified mucociliary differentiation, offering highly predictive translational models.

The kit provides a complete reagent system containing Cytofect-1, Viral Enhancer, transfection medium, serum-containing transfection medium, and antibiotic-free growth medium. The Viral Enhancer is a replication-deficient, adenovirus-derived formulation that facilitates receptor-mediated endocytosis of the Cytofect-1/DNA complex, directing the payload away from lysosomal degradation pathways without replication-competent virus.

Plasmid DNA delivery into primary epithelial cells enables transient overexpression, microRNA regulation, reporter gene assays, and promoter functional studies. Key downstream applications include:

  • Barrier Function & Permeability: Investigating tight-junction dynamics (e.g., claudins, occludins, ZO-1), paracellular flux, and inflammatory barrier disruption.
  • Respiratory & Mucosal Pathology: Modeling microRNA-mediated gene regulation, mucin secretion, and ciliary mechanics in COPD, asthma, and interstitial lung disease.
  • Renal & Metabolic Physiology: Analyzing transporter kinetics, solute handling, and oxidative stress pathways in proximal tubule and glomerular models.
  • Host–Pathogen & Toxicology Assays: Evaluating epithelial responses to viral/bacterial pathogens, environmental toxins, inflammatory cytokines, and candidate therapeutics.

Transfection, the introduction of nucleic acid into mammalian cells, is a powerful technique used to study in vivo gene function and regulation. The Cytofect™ Epithelial Cell Transfection kit is a plasmid DNA delivery system specifically optimized to deliver DNA into a wide variety of epithelial cells. This kit contains Cytofect-1, Enhancer and Media for transfection and culturing cells. Viral Enhancer has the ability to complex with unmodified DNA via cationic Cytofect-1 and protect the transfected DNA from lysosomal degradation.  This results in high transfection efficiency and viability for these traditionally hard-to-transfect primary epithelial cells.

#Wells / Rxns

96 / 620

24 / 124

12 / 62

The Kit contains all necessary reagents, media and optimized protocols to carry out successful transfection of epithelial cells with high efficiency (40%-70%) and viability (70%-95%).

Products are for research use only. They are not intended for human, animal, or diagnostic applications. *Viral Enhancer (VE) is a replication-deficient, Adenovirus-derived formulation that does not contain replication competent virus. TR1 and VE are manufactured by Targeting Systems.

Details

Kit Contents:
Cyrofect-1
Viral Enhancer (VE)*
Antibiotics-Free Growth Medium
Transfection Medium
Transfection Medium with Serum
Designed to improve transfection efficiency and cell viability, Cytofect is a plasmid DNA delivery system containing Cytofect-2, Enhancer and Media for transfecting and culturing cells. The Enhancer is an endosomolytic peptide that complexes with DNA and Cytofect-2, then escorts the transfection complex to the nucleus. The results are high transfection efficiency and viability for traditionally hard-to-transfect cells.
Instructions TF102K

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Instructions TF102KS

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FAQs

Need More Help?

Visit our comprehensive FAQ page for detailed answers to common questions.

Cytofect™ Transfection Reagents: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Need More Help?

Visit our comprehensive FAQ page for detailed answers to common questions.

Cytofect™ Transfection Reagents: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Citations

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