X-linked processes in serially passaged "aging" human diploid cells.

Human diploid fibroblasts serially cultured in vitro show a progressive decline in their proliferative capacity. Much before the cells cease to divide, changes in certain phenotypic parameters can also be detected with passage level. A progressive decline in the ratio of two enzyme activities in the purine salvage pathway, one an X-linked enzyme, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) and the other a biochemically related autosomal-linked enzyme, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) becomes apparent with increasing population doublings. The more extensive relative decline in HGPRT activity with passage may be explained on gene dosage effects subsequent to the random inactivation of one X-chromosome in the somatic cells of mammalian females; however, other interpretations can be considered. Since the enzyme activity ratio of HGPRT/APRT decreases linearly with population doubling, it could be useful for the evaluation of the biological "age" of serially passaged cultures. Studies of X-linked processes in human diploid cells and its variations during the life-span in culture may contribute to our understanding of some of the mechanisms of "senescence/change" and of the etiology of certain maturity onset disorders.