A long-lived human diploid fibroblast line for cellular aging studies: applications in cell hybridization.

We have isolated a diploid fibroblast culture from human fetal lung with an in vitro lifespan of about 100 population doublings. The culture grows very well at clonal densities and long-lived clones can be isolated for use in cellular aging studies. The longer in vitro lifespan of the culture has allowed us to isolate from it a clone, containing a dominant and recessive mutation, having significant remaining proliferative potential. The nature of the mutations will allow for hybrid selection, after fusion of the mutant clone with wild type human cells. The mass culture and clones derived from it provide a valuable resource for cell aging studies.