Cell Senescence Culture Facility
Sponsors:
UAB Center for Aging; UAB Department of Biology
Purpose:
The general purpose of the Cell Senescence Culture Facility (CSCF) is to provide
various types of aging cells to investigators interested in the aging process. This
facility is one of only a few in the United States and is designed to not only facilitate
studies of aging, but to also participate in new investigations of the mechanisms
of cellular aging and age-related diseases. The CSCF is available to investigators
who are actively involved in studies of cellular aging as well as those who are
considering aging studies. It is intended to facilitate understanding of the basis
of aging and to encourage study of age-related diseases using in vitro models of
senescent cell lines. A prime goal of the CSCF is to develop a research focus that
impinges on the understanding of the basic phenotypic changes in senescent cells
as well as the prevention of senescent pathways.
Services:
The services provided by the CSCF include:
- Growing and supplying various cell lines to investigators who have an interest in
cell senescence or age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis
and bone and metabolic diseases, degenerative joint disease and cancer as well as
many other age-related conditions.
- Collecting and maintaining an aging cell line repository for storage of cell lines
that provides ready access of cells to all interested investigators.
- Conducting research into the fundamental and clinical aspects of cell senescence
using specific cell lines to probe the cell culture characteristics of phenotypic
changes and underlying molecular or metabolic changes.
- Performing a consultation service in growing various age-related cell lines for
experimental projects. We have the ability to record cell morphology in culture
conditions using our Nikon triocular phase contrast light microscope and Nikon 990
digital camera. The facility has several incubators that can be used to control
culture conditions for special studies. We can passage cells to a certain population
doubling or to senescence by morphological standards. We can store cells in liquid
nitrogen and provide frozen cell pellets for protein or DNA purification. The facility
also provides services for immunohistochemistry analysis using specified antibodies,
examination of telomerase activity and analysis of biomarkers of aging such as the
beta-galactosidase assay.
Opportunities for Faculty Involvement:
All UAB faculty are eligible to participate in the use of the CSCF. Besides basic
science faculty, we are also very interested in the involvement of clinical faculty
who study diseases related to the aging process.
Primary Contact Person:
, Ph.D., D.O., Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
175A Campbell Hall
1300 University Boulevard
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170
(tel) (205) 934-4573
(fax) (205) 975-6097
Web Sites:
All UAB faculty are eligible to participate in the use of the CSCF. Besides basic
science faculty, we are also very interested in the involvement of clinical faculty
who study diseases related to the aging process.
Leaders and Key Staff:
- Trygve Tollefsbol, D.O., Ph.D., Director