I suggest using 293T cells. They are human embryonic kidney cells immortalized using the large T antigen. These cells are very easy to maintain and divide fast  (every 24 hour). They can be grown in DMEM F12 or DMEM. Please remember to add from 5% to 10% Fetal Bovine Serum, L-glutamine, and Antibiotics-Antimycotics.

Hello Vojtěch,

HeLa cells would also be an option. They are easy to cultivate and can be triggered to undergo apoptosis using for example Staurosporine or death ligands (e.g. TRAIL) and possibly also through various other agents. Caspase-3 is acitvated in HeLa cells during apoptosis. I'm not completely sure about caspase-7, but you can probably find that out when you check the relevant literature.

You could also immortalize the cells you get from the neigbouring institute (I assume they are MEF) through the 3T9 method.

We used Hela cells and caspase 8 activity  during apoptosis signaling was reported here:

Cell Death Differ. 2013 Apr;20(4):599-610. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2012.156. Epub 2013 Jan 11.

Thank you very much for your suggestions I'll do some more research and find out which would suit us best.

note that Caspase 3 is involved in every cell functions that involved cytoskeletal constriction, such as mitosis or cell differentiation ather than apoptosis. Check out apoptosis and mitosis index by staining with hematoxilin or make sure mitosis is low working at plateau stage on cell growing curve.

we use INT-407 intestinal cells. its easy to manage.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19735176

good luck

I used Jurkat which is a  leukaemia cell lines,  too easy to grow because it's a suspension and very sensitive to nature bioactive compound and to chemo treatment