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Epidermolysis bullosa simplex keratinocytes with extended lifespan established by ectopic expression of telomerase
Author(s) -
Jensen Thomas G.,
Sørensen Charlotte B.,
Jensen Uffe B.,
Bolund Lars
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0625.2003.120109.x
Subject(s) - telomerase , telomerase reverse transcriptase , epidermis (zoology) , ectopic expression , biology , telomere , epidermolysis bullosa simplex , population , somatic cell , keratinocyte , cancer research , karyotype , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , cell culture , genetics , medicine , chromosome , anatomy , environmental health
As part of a strategy to develop somatic gene therapy of epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) we have established patient keratinocytes with expanded lifespan by ectopic expression of the human telomerase gene (hTert). The presence of an active telomerase enzyme was demonstrated by the telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP). The hTert(+) cells have a normal karyotype and the cells have, until now, undergone more than 80 population doublings (PDs) after hTert retroviral transduction while control cells exhibited senescence‐associated proliferation arrest after 8 PDs. In organotypic culture the hTert(+) cells are capable of forming a stratified epidermis illustrating their preserved ability to differentiate.