Spontaneous polyploidization results in apoptosis in a Meth-A tumor cell line.
Cultured Meth-A cells always include a small fraction of large cells, which had a DNA content above 4c (polyploid cells). The process from the formation to the disintegration of polyploid Meth-A cells was measured by means of time-lapse videography. Polyploid Meth-A cells arose spontaneously from normal cells (polyploidization), then died by apoptosis. The fraction of polyploid cells gradually increased in seven day-exponential cultures with a low concentration of demecolcine, which is a specific inhibitor of cell division. The results revealed that the polyploid Meth-A cells are generated from normal cells by failing cell division and that they die by apoptosis.
Fujikawa-Yamamoto
K
K
Division of Basic Science, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan.
Zong
Z P
ZP
Murakami
M
M
Odashima
S
S
Ikeda
T
T
Yoshitake
Y
Y
D017209:Apoptosis; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D003703:Demecolcine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011123:Polyploidy; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D003703:Demecolcine