Retardation of cell aging by lipid peroxidation

Different concentrations of Fe e+/vitamin C mixtures were used as initiators of lipid peroxidation in diploid fibroblasts from cultured human embryonic lung. Malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in the cell cultures was correlated directly with the concentrations of Fe²⁺ and vitamine C. Lipid peroxidation was associated with an increase in life-span, decrease in the population doubling time and increase in cellular DNA synthesis. The effects of lipid peroxidation varied inversely with the MDA level. These data showed that low levels of lipid peroxidation retarded several biological properties of cultured cells that are associated with cell aging.