Single-nucleotide polymorphism of the urokinase-plasminogen activator gene during aging and transformation of human diploid kidney cell cultures

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are differences in the nucleotide sequence of a specific gene from different individuals. The frequency at which SNPs occur varies among individuals, is gene dependent, and may be influenced by the aging process or by mechanisms that result in cell transformation. Urokinase-plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine protease that is important in embryonic development, aging, and the onset of pathogenic conditions. The frequency of SNP and the stability of the SNPs in the uPA gene have not been defined with regard to processes that are associated with cellular aging or transformation. In this study, the complete nucleotide sequence has been determined for the gene encoding uPA from 26 human diploid kidney cell lines. The frequency of SNP occurrence within the uPA gene and whether this frequency changed during cellular aging, or after cell transformation, were determined. The results demonstrated three donor-dependent SNPs. One SNP was located at base pair 422, which is in the region of the gene responsible for encoding the high-molecular weight domain of uPA (HMW-uPA). The other SNPs were located at base pairs 691 and 822, both of which are in the region of the gene responsible for encoding the low-molecular weight domain of uPA (LMW-uPA). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms were not detected in the portion of the gene responsible for encoding the uPA secretion signal. Leucine or proline would be encoded at amino acid 141 of HMW-uPA as the result of an SNP at base pair 422. The SNP detected at base pair 691 would encode for lysine or glutamine at amino acid 231 of LMW-uPA. The SNP detected at base pair 822 would not change the encoded asparagine located at position 274 of the protein. The SNPs identified in this study were donor dependent and were not altered during cellular aging, or by changes in karyology due to spontaneous transformation of the cell line. These results demonstrate that the integrity of the uPA gene is stable and not subject to alterations that accompany cell aging or transformation.     

Changes in the cell surface of human diploid fibroblasts during cellular aging.

The electrophoretic mobility of 13 human diploid cell strains, TIG-1, TIG-2, TIG-3, TIG-7, WI-38, IMR-90, MRC-5, MRC-9, TIG-1H, TIG-1L, TIG-2M, TIG-2B, and TIG-3S, which were established from different tissues of human embryos, was studied at different passages. The net negative surface charge of the cells was characteristic for each cell strain and decreased significantly during the in vitro aging of the cells. The decrease in the net negative charge of the cells correlated well with the decrease in cell density throughout the life span of the cells. A strict linear correlation between the electrophoretic mobility and the number of cells harvested at each passage was obtained for all the human diploid cell strains. Moreover, almost the same linear regression coefficient of the cells was obtained among these cell strains. Therefore, the net negative surface charge of human diploid cell strains could serve as a cell surface marker for in vitro cellular aging.     

Transcription factor activity during cellular aging of human diploid fibroblasts.

Human diploid fibroblasts display a limited proliferative life span in vitro, which is directly correlated to the age of the donor from which the cells were explanted. In an effort to identify molecular events that may underlie the loss of proliferative potential in aging fibroblasts, we have determined, at the protein level, the abundance of several cell-cycle-regulated proteins and the activity of the two major members of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA binding complex. We find that cyclin A and p34cdc2 expression is decreased by two- to four-fold in old fibroblasts, but that Fos expression and binding activity are reduced by as much as 95% in old, as opposed to young cells, despite equivalent amounts of p105Rb and Jun proteins being expressed. We have further determined that the composition of the protein complex which binds a consensus (-TGACTCA-) AP-1 site changes dramatically during in vitro aging. Since we have shown previously that AP-1 activity is required for progression through the cell cycle, we propose that the quantitative and qualitative changes seen in AP-1 may play a direct role in the gradual loss of proliferative ability seen as cells approach senescence.     

Alteration of ceramide monohexoside in human diploid fetal lung fibroblasts during cell aging

Serially cultured human diploid fibroblasts have a finite lifetime in vitro, and this phenomenon was postulated as cellular aging. Neutral glycosphingolipids (GSLs) from human fetal lung-derived diploid fibroblast cell lines, WI-38 and TIG-1 cells, were studied during cellular aging. Both cell lines had at least four types of neutral GSLs. It was found that neutral GSLs changed with aging, the most conspicuous alteration being a 2-4-fold increase in the content of ceramide monohexoside. This change was invariably observed in either WI-38 or TIG-1 cells.     

The role of DNA breaks in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and aging

The published and author's data on the involvement of DNA breaks in cell proliferation, differentiation and senescence are reviewed. During senescence, exogenous unrepaired DNA breaks are irreversibly accumulated. During differentiation, DNA breaks are also accumulated, but against the background of active reparation processes in the cell on the principle of a dynamic equilibrium between DNA breakage and reparation. When modelling the state of cell quiescence, both types of DNA breaks may take place. It is suggested that DNA breakage in the replicative complex is specific for the state of quiescence.     

A new cell surface marker of aging in human diploid fibroblasts

The relationship of cell surface changes to proliferative decline of human diploid fibroblasts was investigated using the concanavalin A-mediated red blood cell adsorption assay. The amount of the red blood cells adsorbed to human diploid fibroblasts via concanavalin A increased continuously from the early phases of cell passage up through cell senescence, while the amount of 3H-concanavalin A binding did not change to a significant extent. The red blood cell adsorption is not a function of cell cycle phase and time spent in culture. Cocultivation of young cells with old cells also did not affect the adsorption capacity of respective cells. Thus, the concanavalin A-mediated red blood cell adsorption can be expected to serve as a new cell surface marker for aging in vitro. Using this marker, it was revealed that transient cell size or 3H-thymidine incorporating capacity di not have a direct relationship with the division age of a cell. Small rapidly dividing cells in old populations resemble large slowly dividing or nondividing cells of the same populations and differ from small rapidly dividing cells in young populations, in terms of cell surface properties.     

The fate of the primary diploid population during spontaneous transformation of growth factor-supplemented murine cell cultures

Primary cultures derived from lung and renal tissue of the newborn harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) were serially passaged in media supplemented with epidermal growth factor, hydrocortisone, transferrin, insulin, and triiodothyronine. Although these growth factor supplements eliminated the growth crisis commonly encountered during the initial stages of murine primary cultures, the original diploid cell fraction clearly underwent such a "crisis"; the truly diploid cells invariably disappeared as these cultures reached 20 to 40 population doublings. They were replaced, either gradually or precipitously, by various heteroploid cell fractions. In three of four independent cultures, these "established" cells were hypotetraploid and appeared to be derived from a small number of progenitors already present during the very early (precrisis) culture stages. In contrast to rather frequent DNA changes displayed by clones and subclones derived from the various heteroploid cell lineages, the predominant components of the established mass cultures displayed a highly constant DNA fluorescence pattern. Our results suggest that primary murine cell cultures develop heteroploid cell lineages even if the initial growth crisis is mitigated by growth factor supplements. These heteroploid cells appear to respond more efficiently to stimulation by various growth factors than the primary diploid cell population.     

Changes in enzymes during aging of human diploid cells. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase]

The thermal inactivation kinetics of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase during ageing of human diploid cells were studied. It was shown that semi-logarithmic anamorphisms of the thermal inactivation kinetic curves may be presented as a total of two rectilinear sites corresponding to the thermolabile and thermostable fractions of the enzyme. In ageing cells the enzyme stability is decreased as compared to the young ones due to the increase in the amount of the thermolabile fraction. It was also found that despite a certain variability in the process of the cell growth at the 22nd passage the thermal stability of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is decreased, while the enzyme thermal stability in the cells at the 52nd passage is monotonously increased. Purification of the enzyme from ageing and young human diploid cells results in an increase of the enzyme stability. However, when the enzyme was isolated from young cells, it possessed a higher thermal stability.     

The regulation of physiological changes during mammalian aging.

Much evidence suggests that intrinsic molecular or cellular aging mechanisms need not be invoked to explain most age-related cellular changes and pathologcical conditions. Analysis of a widely scattered literature indicates that hormones and neural factors regulate a great number of cellular aging phenomena of mammals. It is proposed that age-related changes after maturation result from an extension of the neural and endocrine mechanisms that control earlier development and that produce a regulatory cascade of changing neural, endocrine, and target-tissue interactions.     

Enzyme regulation during development and aging.

Glutamine synthetase and ornithine aminotransferase activities have been shown to decrease in aging rats, but the decline varies in degree for the two enzymes in liver and kidney. The responsiveness of the two liver enzymes to glucagon and cyclic AMP demonstrates a similarity in enzyme regulation between developing and aging rats and a contrast in enzyme regulation between these animals and young adults. The results are interpreted as showing a reversion in certain aspects of enzyme regulation during aging to those prevailing in the perinatal state.     

Prematurely condensed chromosomes of dividing and non-dividing cells in aging human cell cultures.

Chromosomes of dividing and non-dividing aging cells were examined by fusing senescent WI38 cells with mitotic HeLa cells to induce premature chromosome condensation (PCC). Exposure of the WI38 cells to ³H-thymidine 48 h prior to fusion allowed autoradiographic identification of cells that did not synthesize DNA (non-dividing cells). Ninety-six percent of the non-dividing cells, diploid or tetraploid, induced into PCC had single chromatids and were therefore blocked in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Anomalous centromeric pairing of chromatids was noted in the remaining 4% of the non-dividing cells. Typical G2 configurations (double chromatids) were observed only among labeled (dividing) cells. The efficiency of PCC induction was independent of culture age. In addition, the efficiency of PCC induction was independent of phase in the cell cycle, as shown by comparison of observed frequencies with expected frequencies.     

Increased nuclear sizes in senescent human diploid fibroblast cultures.

Measurement of nuclear size in cultured human diploid fibroblasts (WI38) reveals a shift to larger cell nuclei as afunction of in vitro passage. Examination of nuclear size distribution on the basis of replicative potential reveals that at all levels of in vitro passage, the rapidly replicating cell population have smaller nuclear sizes than comparable populations of slow or non-replicating cells. While the nuclear size distribution of the rapidly replicating cell population remains relatively constant, there is a marked shift in the nuclear size distribution of the slow or non-replicating cell population to larger sizes with increasing in vitro passage.