QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SINGLE-CELL CLONAL EXPANSION AND CELL SENESCENCE BY USING MICROWELL CELL ARRAY

摘要

This paper reports a quantitative method to study cell senescence by using a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) based microwell cell array. GM639 human fibroblasts which have undergone shRNA-mediated depletion of the Werner Syndrome protein (WRN) were used in this experiment. Clonal expansion and cell senescence were quantified through the integration of a microwell cell array and an automated imaging system. Our results show that WRN depleted cells have a lower proliferative rate and a higher probability of becoming senescent which supports the role of WRN in determining cell proliferation, cell survival and maintenance of genetic integrity.