CI-huArlo cells are immortalized human alveolar epithelial cells. The cell line is an improved version of the CI-hAELVi alveolar epithelial cell line. It was derived from CI-hAELVis by single-cell printing and shows an overall improved alveolar phenotype, most notably a tighter barrier formation.
While the CI-huArlos generally show an AT-1 phenotype in standard culture, the cells do adopt a proliferating AT-2-like transcriptome in Air-Liquid-Interface cell culture.
This CI-huArlo cell line is the result of a collaboration between HIPS (Saarbrücken, Germany) and us.
Characteristics
- TEER of >1500 Ω×sqcm in Liquid-Liquid culture
- TEER of >2000 Ω×sqcm in Air-Liquid-Interface culture
- Tight junctions (ZO1 and Occludin)
- Monolayer growth on semipermeable inserts
- Susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection
CI-huArlo or CI-hAELVi?
We offer two alveolar cell lines CI-hAELVi and CI-huArlo, which are closely related. See the FAQ for more information.
Buying and Ordering the Cells
For non-profit organizations, cells are available for perpetual academic research under the Limited Research Use License. To request a quote, please email us at or use the contact form provided below.
For-profit entities can purchase cells for commercial use starting with an Evaluation Agreement for preliminary testing. This is followed by custom, non-exclusive licensing agreements tailored to your needs. For further details, reach out to us at or via the contact form below.
Supplied as
Each license includes 1 vial of >0.5Mio viable cells. Additional or replacement vials can be purchased for a fee of 450€.



- Air-Blood-Barrier model
- Air-Liquid-Interface culture
- Barrier formation
Product Details
CI-huArlos at low and high confluency, cultured in huAEC Medium (Cat.-No. INS-ME-1013) as a 2D monolayer on Coating Solution (Cat.-No. INS-SU-1026).

Coming Soon!
Stay tuned for comprehensive details on our cell line characteristics and corresponding protocols, which will be available here shortly.
We recommend the following reagents for the cell culture of this cell line:
Growth Medium: huAEC Medium (INS-ME-1013)
Coating: Coating Solution (INS-SU-1026)
Freezing Medium: Freezing Medium A (INS-SU-1004)
Please note that while you may be able to adapt the cells to different cell culture reagents, we can only guarantee optimal performance using the recommended reagents.
- Product Sheet including all relevant protocols and instructions (PDF)
- Material Safety Data Sheet (PDF)
- Request CoA (Email)
Coming Soon!
Stay tuned for comprehensive protocols for this cell line, from routine cell cultures to assay manuals.
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Product FAQ
CI-huArlo is a direct derivative of CI-hAELVi, created through single cell printing technology. Both cell lines exhibit similar characteristics, offering an excellent alveolar in vitro model. For a detailed comparison of both cell lines refer to the following research paper: Carius, et al. Adv Sci vol. 10,8 (2023).
CI-huArlo shows an enhanced alveolar phenotype compared to CI-hAELVi, mainly:
- improved barrier formation (TEER) in Liquid-Liquid Interface (LLI) and Air-Liquid Interface (ALI)
- better polarized monolayer in ALI culture
- gene expression profiles similar to primary cells
You can refer to Carius, et al. Adv Sci vol. 10,8 (2023) for a detailed comparison.
However, we have also found the CI-huArlo cells to require a bit more „finesse“ when culturing them, compared to CI-hAELVi. This makes CI-huArlo particularly suitable for studies requiring the best alveolar in vitro model. However, due to the extensive use and publication history of CI-hAELVi, it remains the recommended choice for researchers wanting to reproduce or build upon existing research findings.
The choice between CI-huArlo and CI-hAELVi depends on your research objectives and the specific requirements of your study.
CI-huArlo is ideal for cutting-edge research requiring an improved alveolar model, while CI-hAELVi is better suited for projects intending to build upon a wealth of previously published data.
Should you require further advice in selecting the most appropriate cell line for your needs, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team is happy to assist you in making the best choice for your research.
Yes, CI-huArlo cells can be cultured in Air-Liquid Interface (ALI) conditions. Please follow the instructions provided in the Product Sheet. We also provide a specialized Medium FasTEER Medium specifically optimized for robust barrier formation in ALI and Liquid-Liquid Interface (LLI) culture.
The CI-huArlo cells are derived from the CI-hAELVi cell line, created through single-cell printing. Initially, CI-hAELVis were identified as alveolar type-I cells, based on their isolation protocol, caveolin expression, and lack of key type-II markers. However, recent studies indicate that under long-term Air-Liquid Interface (ALI) culture conditions, they might exhibit type-II characteristics, including lamellar body formation and surfactant protein secretion.
Whole genome gene expression analysis has recently classified the phenotype of CI-huArlo cells as proliferating type-II, please see the following paper for details Carius, et al. Adv Sci vol. 10,8 (2023).
While our alveolar cells typically exhibit a type-I phenotype in standard cultures, they appear to maintain a degree of plasticity, potentially shifting towards a more type-II phenotype under ALI conditions. Whether this is general differentiation in ALI conditions or true plasticity of the cell line, remains to be fully understood.
For the best performance of this cell line, we advise using our Medium and Coating Solutions specified in the product sheet. These have been specially optimized for these cells. While it may be possible to adapt the cells to a different medium, we cannot assure their optimal performance outside our recommended Medium and Coating Solution. To validate any new culturing conditions, we suggest conducting comparative tests with our recommended protocols to confirm the cells‘ expected behavior.
All our cell lines were immortalized using our custom library of immortalization genes. This library contains a combination of specifically selected immortalization genes encoded in lentiviruses. For a detailed description of our immortalization technology refer to Lipps et al. Nat comm vol. 9,1 994. 2018.
The CI-huArlo specifically are a direct derivative of our CI-hAELVi cells, obtained by single cell printing.
Firstly, it is worth mentioning that passage number is not always a reliable indicator of cell ageing due to its dependence on variables like seeding densities and split ratios. However, they can provide useful guidance in routine cell culture.
Our cell lines are truly immortalized, allowing for indefinite culturing. Nonetheless, we advise caution beyond passage 50. While more stable than typical cancer cell lines, our cells can still undergo changes with prolonged culture. We recommend periodically assessing cell performance after passage 50.
Typically, our immortalized cells are provided at passages 5 to 15. To avoid running out of material, we suggest banking cells immediately after initial expansion. This strategy ensures you always have sufficient cells for your research.
Should there be any concerns about depleting your cell stock, you have the option to order a new vial of cells as a replacement for a handling fee.
This cell line is BSL 1 according to German legislation. However, persons working with such cell lines and their employers are required to familiarize themselves with the national regulations and safety precautions, as they may differ. Our provided biosafety classification does not provide any exemption from this responsibility.
Yes, you can use our immortalized cell lines for commercial purposes with the appropriate license. We provide an initial evaluation phase for our cell lines at a flat fee of €3,500 for a 3-month license, or €5,000 for a 6-month license. During this period, use of the cells is limited to internal research, development, and validation.
For commercial use beyond the evaluation phase, we offer various licensing options, such as:
- Internal research and development
- CRO license (providing research services to third parties)
- Assay license
Please contact us to find the licensing option that best fits your needs.
Our immortalized cell lines are fully characterized and can be expanded indefinitely, making them a one-time purchase for perpetual use. This differs from primary cells, which are consumables you would need to repurchase. The licensing model not only respects the perpetual use value but also allows us to adjust fees based on your specific use case. Consider two scenarios: Customer A wants the cells for a single assay at one site for a limited time, while Customer B plans to use them globally across multiple sites for drug discovery and additionally transfer them to a CRO. Charging both customers the same one-time fee would not account for the vastly different use cases. That’s why our license fees are tailored to fit your unique needs.