Cell Immortalization

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-VII

   PDF

2. A Theory on Cellular Aging and Cell Immortalization

   • J. W. I. M. Simons

   Pages 1-21

3. Cell Immortality: Maintenance of Cell Division Potential

   • C. Bernstein, H. Bernstein, C. Payne

   Pages 23-50

4. Comparative Biology of Cell Immortalization

   • A. Macieira-Coelho

   Pages 51-80

5. Clonal Life Cycle of Paramecium in the Context of Evolutionally Acquired Mortality

   • Y. Takagi

   Pages 81-101

6. Cellular Genealogy of In-Vitro Senescence and Immortalization

   • T. Matsumura

   Pages 103-119

7. SV40-Mediated Immortalization

   • H. L. Ozer

   Pages 121-153

8. Concepts of Immortalization in Human Mammary Epithelial Cells

   • K. Swisshelm

   Pages 155-172

9. Telomeres and Cell Division Potential

   • K. Perrem, R. R. Reddel

   Pages 173-189

10. Cellular Mortality and Immortalization: A Complex Interplay of Multiple Gene Functions

    • R. Wadhwa, S. C. Kaul, Y. Mitsui

    Pages 191-204

11. Back Matter

    Pages 205-207

    PDF

The problem of the long-term proliferation of cells is a seminal one. It has always been a hot subject in biology, a source of far-reaching hypotheses, even more so now when explanations for the mechanisms of cell prolifera­ tive mortality or immortality seem within our reach. A question which is still debated is whether an infinite division potential can be a normal trait or is always the result of modifications leading to abnormal cell growth and escape from homeostasis. In general, investigators have been advocates of one of the two extremes, universal limited or unlim­ ited normal proliferative potential. Since the long-term proliferative potential of cells concerns regulation of development, regeneration of tissues, and homeostatic control of cell growth, in brief survival of living organisms, and since the regulation of these processes is so different along the evolutionary scale, it is not surpris­ ing that there does not seem to be any universal trait. The question of whether cells are endowed with finite or infinite prolifera­ tive phenotypes has to be seen using the perspective of comparative biology.

• Cell immortalization
• Krebs
• Seneszenz
• aging
• biology
• cancer
• cell
• cell division
• evolution
• gene
• mortality
• senescence

• INSERM, Versailles, France

  Alvaro Macieira-Coelho

Policies and ethics