Characteristics of HeLa strains: Permanent vs. variable features

Abstract

Characteristic rearranged human chromosome markers have been observed in a variety of HeLa cell sublines and in five suspected HeLa contaminant lines originally thought to be derived from differentiated tissues of different individual patients. The allozyme genetic signatures, representing the composite enzyme phenotype at eight polymorphic loci, of each of the studied contaminant lines were identical to each other and to those of HeLa cells. The probability that each of these lines would have an identical genetic signature (since the frequency of the HeLa genotype is 0.0017) is 4.2×10^–15. Differences between cell lines, however, could be detected by isoelectric focussing of the isoenzymes for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The cell lines, including CLL 74, the older Chang liver line, failed to express five liver-specific proteins. One protein was detected in a new liver cell culture. Variations in cytogenetic, biochemical, and differentiated functions during continuous cell culture are discussed.

Amplification of sodium- and potassium-activated adenosinetriphosphatase in HeLa cells by ouabain step selection.

“…The identity of this phosphopeptide is not known, nor is the reason for its altered expression in C ÷ and C-cells understood. Table I summarizes the results of previous chromosomes studies performed in known and suspected HeLa cell lines (32)(33)(34). The karyotype of our HeLa cell line is consistent with the designation of HeLa $3 with a few modifications.…”

The StcE Protease Contributes to Intimate Adherence of EnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coliO157:H7 to Host Cells

“…Their identity may not be particularly important in terms of E. coli O157:H7 pathogenesis, given that HEp-2 cells are cervical cells (16,57,58). However, HEp-2 cells are the predominant model for studies of A/E formation, and results from this model system have been correlated with in vivo results (8,24,50).…”

Cell culture forensics

“…He exposed HeLa contamination in over 40 different human cultures, all labeled as something else (3,(5)(6)(7)(8). The cell culture community had a very large problem.…”

“…The cell culture community learned from this sorry episode but is still looking for a better fix. Stan Gartler migrated back to genetic studies; Walter Nelson-Rees retired abruptly in 1981, a casualty of the U.S. National Cancer Institute's retreat from Richard Nixon's celebrated War on Cancer, yet not before publishing several very specific hit lists of notorious cell contaminants in Science magazine (5)(6)(7)(8). Yet cell contamination continues into the 21st century.…”