The lipids of normal diploid (WI-38) and SV40-transformed human cells.

Abstract

AbstractThe lipids of human diploid cell strain WI‐38 and of a line derived from it by SV40 transformation have been studied. The lipid composition and fatty acid spectra of both resemble those reported for other tissue culture cells and human tissues. The lipids of the normal and transformed cells are similar except that there are decreases in the content of phospholipids and of arachidonic acid in the transformed cells. The ability of the cells to synthesize lipids was assayed in a „resting”︁ cell system. Both cell types were able to incorporate labelled acetate into their component neutral lipids and phospholipids, but the rates observed were lower than that required for cell growth. Elevation in the rate of cholesterol synthesis was observed in the transformed cells. The data are discussed in relation to other reports in the literature on lipids and neoplasms.