Cell Immortalization / Edition 1

by Alvaro Macieira-Coelho

Overview

The problem of the long-term proliferation of cells is a seminal one. It has always been a hot subject in biology, a source of far-reaching hypotheses, even more so now when explanations for the mechanisms of cell prolifera­ tive mortality or immortality seem within our reach. A question which is still debated is whether an infinite division potential can be a normal trait or is always the result of modifications leading to abnormal cell growth and escape from homeostasis. In general, investigators have been advocates of one of the two extremes, universal limited or unlim­ ited normal proliferative potential. Since the long-term proliferative potential of cells concerns regulation of development, regeneration of tissues, and homeostatic control of cell growth, in brief survival of living organisms, and since the regulation of these processes is so different along the evolutionary scale, it is not surpris­ ing that there does not seem to be any universal trait. The question of whether cells are endowed with finite or infinite prolifera­ tive phenotypes has to be seen using the perspective of comparative biology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783642084911
Publisher:	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date:	12/03/2010
Series:	Progress in Molecular and Subcellular Biology , #24
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2000
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.24(d)

About the Author

Macieira-Coelho, Alvaro (INSERM)

Table of Contents

A Theory on Cellular Aging and Cell Immortalization.- Cell Immortality: Maintenance of Cell Division Potential.- Comparative Biology of Cell Immortalization.- Clonal Life Cycle of Paramecium in the Context of Evolutionary Acquired Mortality.- Cellular Genealogy of In-Vitro Senescence and Immortalization.- SV40-Mediated Immortalization.- Concepts of Immortalization in Human Mammary Epithelial Cells.- Telomeres and Cell Division Potential.- Cellular mortality and Immortalization: A Complex Interplay of Multiple Gene Functions.

Editorial Reviews

3 Stars from Doody

This book is a collection of nine chapters or, more correctly, essays on the subject of cell immortalization. The style suggests it is the proceedings of a conference, but this is not stated as such. The editor states, "We felt it was time to make an appraisal and present different views of the subject, emphasizing the certitudes and ambiguities surrounding the phenomenon [of cell immortalization and cellular aging]." This is a reasonable purpose for a book and it is achieved here. The book is written primarily for those in the field, or for persons who may wish to learn about the general ideas, arguments, pros and cons, and model systems that have been studied regarding the questions of cellular aging and possible immortalization in cell culture. The book may be of interest to a number of life scientists. The authors of each chapter are well known in this field. The contributors discuss a number of model systems, from unicellular eukaryotes to cultured human cells, wherein many approaches to cell immortalization and cellular aging studies have been done. The interpretations and implications of these studies are discussed in a critical manner. This volume contains little, if any, new data; it is almost entirely a retrospective view of the subject. This book would be interesting to researchers in this field and may be useful as a reference volume for the general scientific community.

Alvin Telser

Reviewer: Alvin Telser, PhD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This book is a collection of nine chapters or, more correctly, essays on the subject of cell immortalization. The style suggests it is the proceedings of a conference, but this is not stated as such.
Purpose: The editor states, "We felt it was time to make an appraisal and present different views of the subject, emphasizing the certitudes and ambiguities surrounding the phenomenon [of cell immortalization and cellular aging]." This is a reasonable purpose for a book and it is achieved here.
Audience: The book is written primarily for those in the field, or for persons who may wish to learn about the general ideas, arguments, pros and cons, and model systems that have been studied regarding the questions of cellular aging and possible immortalization in cell culture. The book may be of interest to a number of life scientists. The authors of each chapter are well known in this field.
Features: The contributors discuss a number of model systems, from unicellular eukaryotes to cultured human cells, wherein many approaches to cell immortalization and cellular aging studies have been done. The interpretations and implications of these studies are discussed in a critical manner. This volume contains little, if any, new data; it is almost entirely a retrospective view of the subject.
Assessment: This book would be interesting to researchers in this field and may be useful as a reference volume for the general scientific community.

Doody's Review Service