KMD Bioscience Co., Ltd.
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2023-10-25 Hits(174)
Cellular immortalization is a process that allows cells to overcome their natural lifespan limit, enabling them to proliferate indefinitely. One effective and widely recognized method to achieve this is through the expression of the human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) enzyme, which restores and maintains telomere length, thus bypassing cellular senescence.
The method of cell immortalization using human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) revolves around the overexpression of the hTERT protein in cells to extend or maintain the length of telomeres, which are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. The process begins with the transfection of hTERT into human primary cells, leading to the elongation and maintenance of telomere ends of the chromosomes. This action helps in repressing replicative senescence and overcoming the growth crisis, effectively immortalizing the cells in many instances. However, it's noted that in some cases, more than one immortalization agent may be needed to successfully immortalize a particular cell type, and hTERT might be used in combination with genes encoding viral proteins like simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen and human papilloma virus-16 (HPV-16) E6/E7, or non-viral oncoproteins like Cdk-4 and Bmi-1.
The hTERT method is particularly favored as it often enables the retention of more original cell characteristics compared to other methods of immortalization, such as those utilizing viral oncogenes, which may alter the genetic stability and phenotypic properties of the cells. The expression of the hTERT protein is especially beneficial for cells that are significantly affected by telomere length, including many human cell types.
In the broader landscape of cell immortalization, the hTERT method stands as a more recent discovery compared to the utilization of SV40 T antigen, which also induces telomerase activity in cells to drive immortalization. The SV40 T antigen has been acknowledged as a simple and reliable agent for the immortalization of a variety of cell types, yet the emergence of the hTERT method presents a more targeted approach particularly useful for cells heavily affected by telomere length.
This method of immortalization has proved to be effective in improving stem cell properties and reducing the spontaneous differentiation of certain cell types, such as bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). It has been widely used for cell immortalization, showcasing its potential and effectiveness in the field of cell biology and research.
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