Nluc Reporter Cell Line - Raji

Raji is a highly characterized human B-cell Burkitt's lymphoma cell line, originally established in 1963 from a left maxillary tumor of an 11-year-old Nigerian male. Holding historical significance as the first continuous human cell line of hematopoietic origin, Raji cells grow in suspension with a classic lymphoblast morphology. The cell line is widely studied in immunology and oncology because it contains the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome and robustly expresses major B-lymphocyte surface antigens, including CD19, CD20, and CD22. The Nluc Reporter Cell Line - Raji enhances this foundational hematological model through the stable genetic integration of the NanoLuc (Nluc) reporter gene. NanoLuc is an engineered, exceptionally compact (19.1 kDa) luciferase enzyme derived from the deep-sea shrimp Oplophorus gracilirostris. When exposed to its specific substrate, furimazine, it produces a high-intensity luminescent signal that is often up to 100 times brighter than standard firefly luciferase. Importantly, the engineered Nluc-Raji cells strictly retain the biological identity, suspension growth dynamics, and critical surface antigen profile of the parental line, providing a biologically authentic and highly sensitive platform for advanced research.

The integration of the ultra-bright NanoLuc reporter transforms the Raji cell line into a premier tool for both in vitro analytics and complex preclinical animal modeling, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of adoptive cell therapy. In standard laboratory environments, the intense luminescent output facilitates highly sensitive detection of minute cell populations. This makes it an ideal platform for high-throughput screening of novel chemotherapeutics and for evaluating the precise cytotoxicity of targeted immunotherapies—such as CD19- or CD20-directed CAR-T cells, natural killer (NK) cell therapies, and bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs)—even at very low effector-to-target ratios. In preclinical animal studies, this reporter line serves as an optimal standard for establishing systemic, disseminated models of human B-cell lymphoma. Following intravenous administration into immunodeficient mice, the Nluc-Raji cells naturally home to and engraft within the bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, and frequently the central nervous system (CNS). The remarkable sensitivity of NanoLuc-driven bioluminescence imaging (BLI) enables researchers to non-invasively detect minimal disease burden, map systemic dissemination, and dynamically track the long-term systemic efficacy of experimental therapeutics in living subjects over extended timelines without relying on destructive endpoint analyses.