3T3 cells come from a cell line established in 1962 by two scientists then at the Department of Pathology in the New York University

New York University

New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...

 School of Medicine, George Todaro and Howard Green. The 3T3 cell line has become the standard fibroblast

Fibroblast

A fibroblast is a type of cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, the structural framework for animal tissues, and plays a critical role in wound healing...

 cell line. Todaro and Green originally obtained their 3T3 cells from Swiss mouse embryo tissue.

Nomenclature

The '3T3' designation refers to the abbreviation of "3-day transfer, inoculum 3 x 10⁵ cells." This cell line was originally established from the primary mouse embryonic fibroblast cells that were cultured by the designated protocol, so-called '3T3 protocol'. The primary mouse embryonic fibroblast cells were transferred (the "T") every 3 days (the first "3"), and inoculated at the rigid density of 3 x 10⁵ cells per 20-cm² dish (the second "3") continuously. The spontaneously immortalized cells with stable growth rate were established after 20-30 generations in culture, and then named '3T3' cells.

Uses

3T3 cells are often used in the cultivation of keratinocytes, with the 3T3 cells secreting growth factors favourable to these kinds of cells.

Drugs affecting 3T3 cells

Benzodiazepines such as temazepam

Temazepam

Temazepam is an intermediate-acting 3-hydroxy benzodiazepine. It is mostly prescribed for the short-term treatment of sleeplessness in patients who have difficulty maintaining sleep...

have been found to inhibit Swiss 3T3 cells.