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.
Keywords: Cell line; Passage number; Zebrafish; Aging; Metabolism; Senescence; DNA damage; Redox state.
© Copyright by the Author(s). Published by Cell Physiol Biochem Press.