Gene expression analysis of human lymphoblastoid cell lines. Homo sapiens

Human lymphoblastoid cell lines (EBV-immortalised B cells, LcL) obtained from subjects of different age (young 28-40 years, centenarians >95 years) were analysed for gene expression at basal culture conditions and after 48 hours of serum starvation. Lymphoid B cells from centenarians were more resistant to apoptosis induction and displayed a more developed lysosomal compartment, the most critical component of phagic machinery. In addition, cells from centenarians were capable of engulfing and digesting other cells, i.e. their siblings (even entire cells). This behavior was improved by nutrient deprivation, but strikingly, it was unaffected by the autophagy-modulating drugs rapamycin, an autophagy inducer, and 3-methyladenine, an autophagy inhibitor. Overall design: 12 samples, divided into 4 groups: young basal, young starved, centenarians basal and centenarians starved.

本研究针对不同年龄段受试者（青年组：28~40岁，百岁老人组：年龄＞95岁）来源的人类淋巴母细胞系（EB病毒永生化B细胞，LcL），分别在基础培养条件及血清饥饿48小时后开展基因表达分析。百岁老人来源的淋巴B细胞对凋亡诱导的抵抗性更强，且具备更为发达的溶酶体区室——溶酶体是吞噬系统最为关键的组成部分。此外，百岁老人来源的细胞能够吞噬并消化其他细胞——即其同系细胞（乃至完整细胞）。该吞噬行为可因营养剥夺而增强，但令人意外的是，其不受自噬调节药物雷帕霉素（rapamycin，自噬诱导剂）及3-甲基腺嘌呤（3-methyladenine，自噬抑制剂）的影响。实验整体设计：共纳入12份样本，分为4组：青年基础培养组、青年血清饥饿组、百岁老人基础培养组及百岁老人血清饥饿组。