Repair of DNA strand breaks in progeric fibroblasts and aging human diploid cells

The rate of rejoining of DNA strand breaks induced by 10 krad of γ-irradiation has been studied in normal human diploid skin fibroblasts and skin fibroblasts from six patients with symptoms of progeria. Although slightly more rapid in very early passage, the repair rate in normal cells was similar throughout most of their life span in vitro. The appearance of cells with reduced repair capacity was evident as the cultures became senescent. The progeric fibroblasts varied greatly in their response to irradiation. The rate of repair was greatly reduced in two strains, whereas in two others extensive DNA degradation was consistently observed in unirradiated cells. Degradation was apparently related to the radiation received from the incorporated radiolabel. Normal repair was seen in progeric fibroblasts transformed by SV40 virus