Cultured cell line models of neuronal differentiation: NT2, PC12

The lack of a convenient, easily maintained and inexpensive in vitro human neuronal model to study neurodegenerative diseases, prompted us to develop a rapid, 1-h differentiated neuronal cell model based on human NT2 cells and C3 transferase. Here, we describe the rapid differentiation of human neuronal NT2 cells, and the differentiation, transduction and transfection of rat PC12 cells to obtain cells with the morphology of differentiated neurons that can express exogenous genes of interest at high level.