Could the MRC-5 or WI-38 cell lines (used to grow infant vaccines) be contaminated by HeLa cells?

Let me begin by stating that I do support childhood vaccination. I have also read enough case stories of Mom's reporting the development of behavioral changes (autism, Aspergers) following vaccination administration to be concerned that there might be an un identified correlation. I trust that Mom's know their kids better than any MD.

Ok - so that being said here goes...

Most infant vaccines are developed from two primary fetal cell lines WI-38 and MRC-5.

This article describes how it happens (developed from fetuses aborted over forty years ago).
www.historyofvaccines.org...

The HeLa cell line is not used to develop infant vaccines it was one of the first immortal cell lines - originated from cervical cancer removed from a patient. The cells have different DNA then human cells some even argue it is a different species. As long as they have a food source the HeLa cells can reproduce without ever ending because of a genetic abnormality in the telomeres.

One problem with HeLa cells is that they grow really, really well and are known to contaminate other cell lines in the same lab. Actually a very big issue.

This article explains how many known cell lines are contaminated and a large number are contaminated by HeLa. www.dsmz.de...

So here we have an aggressive cancer cell that loves to jump over and grow in any growth medium available and we also have companies mass producing vaccines using live cell strains.

I can see how HeLa contamination of a cell strain that is used for producing childhood vaccines could result in the increase in autism and aspergers rates in children.

The HeLa telomere abnormality = cell immortality.

If you really want to take a conspiracy leap...For all we know the government could be conducting a deliberate experiment they have done so before! There was a study years ago where they deliberately injected HeLa into prisoners.

Envision an attenuated virus in a medium where it is swapping genetic info with cancer cells that have immortal telomeres. Scary!

Another concern is how often do the vaccine manufacturer check the DNA of their culture cell strain and compare it to the original cell strain to make sure that it hasn't mutated. With enough time repeated cell division over several generations mutations occur.

During the development of the vaccine the virus is grown in the live cells and there is exchange of info between the virus and the cell as the attenuated (weakened) virus is developed.

There is potential for unexpected outcomes if there is variation in the fetal cell strain that is being used to develop the vaccine.


Anyways - this is my current conspiracy theory.

a reply to: Buvvy

I don't think it would cause autism and Aspergers as it would most likely just cause cancer if contaminated right?

a reply to: jobless1


I would think it would only cause cancer to a person who was a direct descendant of HeNrietta Lacks (the patient that had the chance that the HeLa cell line originated from. It could also most likely cause cancer in an immunocmpromised patient (you see this with transplant patients sometimes where the donated organ develops cancer after transplantation).

My concern is that as viruses replicate information is swapped with the host cell. If the host cell is an aggressive immortal cancer cell (instead of benign fetal lung tissue) could the weakened virus that is being grown for vaccination purposes be delivering more than just immunity to a specific disease?

a reply to: Buvvy

What a scary scary thought... especially combined with the push for mandatory vaccinations. I don't know enough to comment on the specifics. I hope some ATSers with more medical knowledge and experience comment though. I think I may learn something!

originally posted by: Buvvy
a reply to: jobless1


I would think it would only cause cancer to a person who was a direct descendant of HeNrietta Lacks (the patient that had the chance that the HeLa cell line originated from. It could also most likely cause cancer in an immunocmpromised patient (you see this with transplant patients sometimes where the donated organ develops cancer after transplantation).

My concern is that as viruses replicate information is swapped with the host cell. If the host cell is an aggressive immortal cancer cell (instead of benign fetal lung tissue) could the weakened virus that is being grown for vaccination purposes be delivering more than just immunity to a specific disease?

sorry it took so long to respond. I just barely understood what you wrote but the implications are crazy if your right