A stochastic model of cellular senescence. II. Concordance with experimental data

This report presents the results of computer simulations of a mathematical model for cell proliferation and senescence. The mathematical model is based on the idea that the in vitro proliferative potential of normal cells is determined by the number of a certain class of self-replicating particles it possesses. In the simulation model these particles are lost by both stochastic and deterministic processes. When all self-replicating particles are lost a cell can divide up to seven times before it irreversibly ceases to replicate. The simulated in vitro lifespans of clones and subclones are shown to be in close agreement with experimental data. We also show that other properties of finitely proliferating cultures can be simulated by this model.