Work

Extension of the Lifespan of Cultured Normal Human Diploid Cells by Vitamin E

Year: 1974

Type: article

Abstract: Inclusion of vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopherol) in the culture medium for human diploid cells greatly prolongs their in vitro lifespan. The addition of 100 mug of DL-alpha-tocopherol per ml of medium has allowed us to culture WI-38 cells for more than 100 population doublings to date. (These cells normally have an in vitro lifespan of 50 +/- 10 population doublings.) Cells at the 100th population doubling have a normal diploid karyotype, appear to behave in all other respects like young WI-38 cells, and are still actively dividing. We interpret this result as support for the free radical theory of aging.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.71.12.4763

Authors: Lester Packer, James R. Smith

Institutions: United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Martinez VA Medical Center, University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: U.S. Public Health Service