HeLa cells

 

When Henrietta Lacks visited John Hopkins in 1951 she didn’t know that cervical cancer would take her life, neither did she know that her biopsy cells would become an immortal cell line used for medical research which has saved lives.

The lab assistant to Henrietta’s attending physician named the tumor cells HeLa after the first 2 letters from  the patient’s Ist and last name as was her custom. HeLa became the name of the cell line.

HeLa tumor cells was different from other cultured cells in growth and not prone to death like others. They were the first human cells to survive outside the human body. It became used commercially in labs by cloning and reproducing more cells. They were the first cells used to test polio vaccine before it was introduced into the society. 

In treating cervical cancer (caused by human papilloma virus- HPV), HeLa cells were the core in development of the vaccines which are now used to decrease deaths from cervical cancer.

Henrietta Lacks 

HeLa cells accidentally proved humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes instead of the 24 pairs earlier believed. This has helped in understanding genetic disorders like Down’s syndrome. The cells were sent to space to determine the effects of space travel on living cells and they multiplied more outside gravity.

HeLa cell’s proliferation is found to be based on the presence of active Telomerase during cell division which prevents the shortening of telomeres responsible for cell death and aging. As a result, HeLa has unlimited cell division and immortality. Also the chromosomes in the cells are almost double the normal diploid number in humans. The cells easily contaminate other cell lines, spreading them over the world.

The HeLa cells are tumor cells and are being used continuously in HIV, cancer, radiation effects and other scientific research.

HeLa cells were given the binomial name Helacyton gartleri by Leigh Van Valen due to their persistence and peculiarity as a new species. A book, documentary, film all about HeLa  has been in the media. Although, there was no permission or consent ethics when HeLa cells were cultured in 1951. Today, the family of Henrietta Lacks is being involved in the use of the cells.

Henrietta Lacks died October of 1951 leaving five kids. Her tumor cells are still living and useful to human health.