Telomerase activation in human fibroblasts during escape from crisis

The immortalization of human diploid fibroblasts requires the circumvention of both the senescence (M1) and crisis (M2) mechanisms of growth control. Cells expressing the SV40 T antigen virtually always bypass senescence, but only rarely escape crisis. The low frequency of this latter event indicates that cellular mutations are necessary to escape crisis. Thirteen subpopulations of T antigen‐expressing human fibroblasts were cultured into crisis. Colonies that appeared to resume growth were assayed for telomerase activity, telomere maintenance, and the immortal phenotype. Our results show that 33 of 35 colonies were telomerase negative and were not immortal. Two colonies were telomerase positive when assayed in the first approximately 15 population doublings after crisis. The first was strongly positive, maintained telomeres at a stable short length, and was later determined to be immortal. The second initially had a weak telomerase signal, grew extremely slowly, and when examined had greatly elongated telomeres consistent with the ALT (alternative lengthening of telomeres) mechanism of telomere maintenance. These cells eventually grew faster and were later determined to be immortal. Additionally, two subpopulations had initially weak and later strong telomerase activity and the cells never entered a defined crisis period. We observed a perfect correlation between telomere maintenance and escape from crisis, supporting the hypothesis that the lack of stable telomeres causes crisis and that the ability to maintain telomeres abrogates crisis. J. Cell. Physiol. 180:46–52, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.