Growth disadvantage of 45,X and 46,X,del(X)(p11) fibroblasts

We have previously shown that cell generation time (CGT) is prolonged in 45,X and certain X-deletion fibroblast lines (Simpson & Le Beau 1981). A consequence of that finding should be that cells with 45,X or an X-structural abnormality are at a competitive disadvantage when cocultivated with 46,XX cells. To test this hypothesis we prepared 15 minutes of cells from combinations of 9 different cell lines: four 45,X; one 46,Xdel(X)(p11); and four 46,XX. Each culture was monitored cytogenetically at frequent passage intervals for the percentage of the two cell lines. Significant differences were found between normal and abnormal lines in culture predominance, in the order predicted by our hypothesis (p less than 0.01). The specific mechanism by which absence of an X chromosome confers growth disadvantage is unknown, but is consistent with prolongation of CGT. Prolongation of CGT could also be responsible for the embryonic lethality, intrauterine growth retardation, short stature, and somatic anomalies commonly observed in individuals with absent or aberrant X chromosomes.