title: Extension of the lifespan of cultured normal human diploid cells by vitamin E: a reevaluation.
abstract: Previously we reported [Packer, L. & Smith, J.R. (1974) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 71, 4763-4767] that the lifespan of WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts in vitro was significantly increased by continuously growing the cell cultures in the presence of vitamin E(dl-alpha-tocopherol), but in 19 subsequent subcultivation series we were unable to reproduce these findings. While vitamin E is incorporated into the cells and is able to act effectively as an antioxidant, apparantly is intracellular antioxidant properties alone do not routinely result in an increase of cell lifespan. A synergism between vitamin E and some component(s) in the first of two lots of serum used in the original experiments seems the most likely explanation for our earlier findings.
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D003470:Culture Media; D004171:Diploidy; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D014810:Vitamin E
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references.pmid: 4531015