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Aging Cell Culture - Genetic and Metabolic Effects of Passage Number on Zebrafish Z3 Cells
Maja Šrut1, Bettina Peer1, Birgit Fiechtner1
1University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Background/Aims:
Since cell lines are cultured and extensively used in a variety of different research disciplines, we determined the effects of passage numbers on a commonly used embryonic zebrafish cell line (Z3).
Methods:
Senescence markers, DNA damage, the redox state, gene expression, and metabolic parameters have been investigated in young (passage 5) up to very old (passage 40 and higher) cells.
Results:
Besides increasing DNA damage, we also found elevated metabolic capacity and a shift to a more reduced cellular redox state in the cells. Interestingly, several parameters showed a non-linear course regarding the passage number or cell age, so that for example young and mid-aged cells appeared to cluster with very old rather than with old cells.
Conclusion:
This study illustrates the importance of passage number and suggests pre-testing specific parameters to assure the generation of accurate and reproducible data.
