Hydrocortisone effects on nucleic acid and nuclear protein content and protein metabolism in aging WI-38 cells.

Confluent late passage WI-38 human diploid fibroblast cultures grown in the presence or absence of hydrocortisone for fifteen population doublings were measured cytochemically for DNA, nuclear RNA, basic nuclear protein and acidic nuclear protein content during a 12-hour interval following a medium-change stimulation. Radioisotope tracer studies were utilized to assess the effects of prolonged hydrocortisone treatment on protein synthesis and degradation in aging confluent and logarithmically growing cultures. Hydrocortisone-treated cultures exhibited an increased Feulgen--DNA stainability, no difference in basic nuclear protein content, a significantly larger initial decrease followed by an increase in acidic nuclear protein content, and elevated levels of nuclear RNA as compared to untreated controls. Hydrocortisone treatment also resulted in increased incorporation of leucine into protein and decreased breakdown of pre-labeled protein in both confluent and logarithmically growing cultures. These results indicate that many of the metabolic changes associated with proliferation are stimulated by prolonged hydrocortisone treatment of late passage WI-38 fibroblast cells.