Cell biology

NCI-H820

NCI-H820 (H820, CVCL_1592, ATCC HTB-181) is a human lung papillary adenocarcinoma cell line derived in 1984 by Gazdar and Oie from a supraclavicular lymph node metastasis, notable for TP53 Thr284Pro and dual EGFR activating/T790M mutations.

NCI-H841

NCI-H841 (H841, CVCL_1595, ATCC CRL-5845) is a human lung cancer cell line established in 1984, originally variant small cell lung cancer, reclassified in 2024 as a thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor with homozygous SMARCA4 and TP53 mutations.

NCI-H920

NCI-H920 (H920, CVCL_1599, ATCC CRL-5850) is a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line established in December 1984 from a 43-year-old male 75 pack-year smoker; NSCLC stage 4 model with TP53 c.560-1G>T, floating-aggregate growth, and extensive omics data.

NCI-N231

NCI-N231 (N231, NCI-H231, CVCL_A788) is a human small cell lung cancer cell line established in 1980 from a mouse xenograft, female, carrying a TP53 p.Glu298Ter nonsense mutation, used in SCLC drug-sensitivity research.

NCI-N87

NCI-N87, also written N87, is a human gastric cancer cell line created at the National Cancer Institute in 1976 from a liver metastasis of a stomach carcinoma.

NCTC clone 929

NCTC clone 929 (L929, L cell) is the first cloned strain of Earle's mouse strain L fibroblast line, cloned in 1948; a spontaneously immortalized C3H/An mouse fibroblast used as the standard ISO 10993-5 cytotoxicity test cell.

Necroptosis

Necroptosis: regulated, caspase-independent lytic cell death driven by the RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL pathway, triggered by TNF, TLR3/4, or ZBP1 when caspase-8 is blocked; inflammatory, term coined 2005, implicated in ischemic, neurodegenerative, and infectious disease.

Negative selection (cell separation)

Negative selection, also called negative cell selection, is a cell separation method in which unwanted cells are antibody-tagged and removed, leaving desired cells unbound and unmanipulated.

NEMP family

NEMP family (InterPro IPR019358, NEMP_fam): nuclear envelope integral membrane proteins of animals and plants, including NEMP1/TMEM194A and NEMP2. They stiffen germ-cell nuclear envelopes, support fertility and meiosis, bind RanGTP, lamin, and emerin, and link to early menopause.

Neoplastic cell

Neoplastic cell (tumor cell): an abnormal cell with dysregulated proliferation or apoptosis control, capable of forming a neoplasm. Covers benign and malignant clones, cancer stem cells, heterogeneity, and genetic origins.

Nephrocyte

Nephrocyte: insect scavenger cell filtering hemolymph through a slit diaphragm homologous to the mammalian podocyte's; Drosophila garland and pericardial nephrocytes model podocyte kidney disease.

Nervous system

The nervous system is the body's network of nerve tissue that transmits signals between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body, controlling movement, breathing, and thought.

Neural cell

Neural cell (Cell Ontology CL:0002319): any cell of the nervous system, including neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, and neural stem cells; classified by morphological, physiological, molecular, and connectional criteria.

Neural cell adhesion

Neural cell adhesion: neuron binding via cell adhesion molecules (N-CAM, cadherins, L1, DCC, protocadherins) through homophilic and heterophilic mechanisms, regulating axon guidance, synaptic specificity, and plasticity.

Neurite outgrowth assay

A neurite outgrowth assay is a cell-based assay that measures neurite extension in neurons, quantifying how drugs, neurotrophic factors, and biomaterials affect differentiation and regeneration.

Neuro-2a

Neuro-2a, also written N2a or NB2a, is a mouse neuroblastoma cell line established in 1969 and used widely as a neuronal model in neuroscience and cancer research.

Neuroanatomical tract-tracing

Neuroanatomical tract-tracing is a family of histological methods in which a tracer injected into nervous tissue is carried by axonal transport, labeling connections between brain regions.

Neuroblast (sensu Vertebrata)

Neuroblast (sensu Vertebrata), Cell Ontology term CL:0000031, also called neuroblast (CL:0000337): a vertebrate cell that will develop into a neuron, often after a migration phase; distinct from the Drosophila neuroblast.

Neuroendocrine cell

Neuroendocrine cell, also called neurosecretory cell or endocrine neuron: a cell with neuronal and endocrine properties that releases hormones into blood upon nervous stimulation, found in hypothalamus, pancreas, gut, lung, and adrenal medulla.

Neuron

Neuron (nerve cell): the electrically excitable basic functional unit of the nervous system, with dendrites, soma, and axon; signals via action potentials and synapses; defined by Cajal's neuron doctrine; classified into many transcriptomic cell types.

Neuron apoptotic process

Neuron apoptotic process (GO:0051402), also called neuronal apoptosis or neuron programmed cell death by apoptosis, is the Gene Ontology biological process for apoptotic death of neurons, via intrinsic mitochondrial and extrinsic death receptor caspase pathways, central to neural development and neurodegeneration.

Oct 20, 2026

Neutrophil Infiltration

Neutrophil infiltration, also called neutrophil recruitment or extravasation, is the chemokine-driven migration of neutrophils from blood into inflamed tissue via selectin rolling, integrin adhesion, and transmigration; central to host defense, chronic inflammation, and cancer.

Next-generation flow cytometry

Next-generation flow cytometry, also called full-spectrum or spectral flow cytometry, measures each cell's full fluorescence emission spectrum, allowing panels of 35 or more antigens in one tube.

Nicastrin

Nicastrin (NCSTN, APH-2) is a 709-amino acid type I transmembrane glycoprotein, the largest subunit of the gamma-secretase complex, acting as a steric gatekeeper on substrates; NCSTN mutations cause hidradenitis suppurativa.

NIH 3T3

NIH 3T3 (NIH/3T3, NIH3T3) is a spontaneously immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line from an NIH Swiss mouse, contact-inhibited, doubling in about 20 hours, and a standard recipient for DNA transfection and ras oncogene transformation assays.

Nissl staining

Nissl staining is a histological method that uses basic dyes such as cresyl violet to label neuronal cell bodies and Nissl substance, the routine stain for brain cytoarchitecture.

Nitrate transporter

Nitrate transporter: plant membrane proteins (NRT1/NPF, NRT2, CLC, SLAC/SLAH families) moving NO3- via proton coupling; NRT1.1/CHL1 is the dual-affinity transporter-sensor switched by Thr101 phosphorylation.

NK-92

NK-92 (Neukoplast, aNK) is a human natural killer cell line established in 1992 from a lymphoma patient; the only NK cell line in clinical trials, IL-2 dependent, CD16-negative, KIR-deficient, irradiated before infusion.

NKG2D

NKG2D (natural killer group 2 member D, Klrk1) is an activating lectin-like receptor on NK and CD8+ T cells that binds MICA/B and ULBP stress ligands, costimulates TCR signaling, and is targeted in cancer immunotherapy.