Programmed cell death is an inherent characteristic of all somatic cells, including some immortalized cell lines. Cell death by apoptosis is attributed to nuclear disintegration, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation and cytoplasmic boiling. The purpose of this communication is to provide another cytogenetic marker of extensive telomeric associations between chromosomes of cells that are undergoing apoptosis. This can occur in normal fibroblasts, EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid B-cell lines, and even in certain tumor cell lines (including cell lines derived from pancreatic and head and neck tumors). From our preliminary data, we conclude that acquisition of ability to form dicentric chromosomes is associated with programmed cell death that can occur not only in normal fibroblasts but even in some tumor cell lines.

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