Extension of the lifespan of cultured normal human diploid cells by vitamin E.
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.
D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004171:Diploidy; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014316:Tritium; D014810:Vitamin E; D004247:DNA; D013936:Thymidine