Endogenous beta-galactosidase activity in continuously nonproliferating cells.
Cytochemically detectable activity of endogenous beta-galactosidase was found at pH 6.0 in Swiss 3T3 cells after long-term incubation in low serum or in the presence of heparin concentrations known to reversibly inhibit cell proliferation. A high percentage of beta-galactosidase-positive cells were detected in U937 and HL60 cultures at the late stage of macrophage-like differentiation induced by TPA. Interestingly, a small number of beta-galactosidase-positive cells were found even in the growing Swiss 3T3 cultures. These positive cells expressed morphological features similar to those of senescent cells. Thus, the activity of beta-galactosidase at pH 6.0 cannot be considered an exclusive marker of senescent cells since it is expressed in other types of nonproliferating cells.
Yegorov
Y E
YE
Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 32 Vavilov Street, Moscow, 117984, Russia. yegorov@genome.eimb.rssi.ru
Akimov
S S
SS
Hass
R
R
Zelenin
A V
AV
Prudovsky
I A
IA
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism*
D001616:beta-Galactosidase