Growth Characteristics and Protein Content of Tissue-Cultured Fibroblasts from Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Summary

Proliferation rates and cellular protein content have been measured in cultured fibroblasts derived from the skin of normal volunteers and cystic fibrosis patients. Three methods of measuring growth indicated that under our conditions, CF fibroblasts divide normally with a mean doubling time of 29 hr. During the logarithmic growth phase, however, lower cell protein/DNA ratios were observed consistently in CF cultures. This difference was not present in contact-inhibited, confluent fibroblasts. The finding of an apparent reduction in protein synthesis during rapid division, coupled with an observation by others that CF fibroblasts fail to normally induce collagen formation, suggests the possibility of a disturbance in the biochemical regulation of protein synthesis.

Special thanks are extended to Dr. Paul A. di Sant’Agnese, Chief, Pediatric Metabolism Branch, NIAMDD for his continued support, encouragement, and guidance in this study. In addition, we gratefully acknowledge the skillful assistance of Miss Judith M. Podskalny and Miss Jane M. Willison.