Ba/F3 Cells

The BA/F3 cell line, originating from murine pro-B cells of the BALB/c mouse strain, is a cornerstone in drug discovery and development, where BaF3 cells are commonly used to test the efficacy of small molecule inhibitors targeting oncogenic kinases. Baf3 is an IL-3 dependent cell line with a single, round cell morphology and instances of polymorphism. Ba/F3 cells are used for F3 transformation assays and Ba/F3 proliferation assays. The F3 transformation assays allow for the exploration of how specific genetic alterations can confer IL-3 independent growth, indicating oncogenic potential. These cells rely on cytokine signaling through cytokine receptors for IL-3 to sustain their proliferation, making the baf3 proliferation assay an excellent tool for studying the effects of cytokine deprivation and the role of cytokine signaling in cell survival and growth. BA/F3 cells have proven invaluable in the context of kinase oncogene evaluation and the testing of small-molecule kinase inhibitors. For instance, Ba/F3 cells transformed to express the BCR-ABL oncogene, which is characteristic of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), have been used to test the effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as imatinib. Ba/F3 cells are further suitable for high-throughput screening and the exploration of drug resistance mechanisms, which are crucial in understanding the dynamics of cancer-associated kinome mutations and developing strategies to overcome resistance in targeted therapies. Overall, the BA/F3 cell line, with its distinct features and biological functions, serves as a critical resource in kinase drug discovery.