5-Halogenated thymidine analogues induce a senescence-like phenomenon in HeLa cells.

We tested various thymidine analogues for induction of a senescence-like phenomenon in HeLa cells. CldU, BrdU, and IdU similarly induced the morphology of senescent cells and typical senescence markers. Thymidine analogues other than 5-halogenated forms caused only cell death. BrdU efficiently killed the cells in cooperation with irradiation with light and a brief treatment with Hoechst 33258, but CldU did not at all. 5-Halogenated thymidine analogues were thus shown to be specific inducers of cellular senescence in mammalian cells.