Immortalization of human cells by the ectopic expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase
First Claim
1. An immortalized cell, wherein said cell comprises:
- a functional telomerase catalytic subunit, wherein said cell maintains at least one function specific to the cell type from which it was derived.
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Abstract
Immortalized primary adult and fetal human cells are provided that express a functional telomerase catalytic subunit from a nucleic acid sequence encoding the hTERT gene. The telomerase-immortalized human cells can be maintained in culture for at least 35 population doublings without developing a transformed phenotype, and while continuing to express proteins associated with the primary differentiated cell type. The invention is also directed to immortalized, non-transformed cell lines derived from primary human cells that express a functional telomerase catalytic subunit and to their use for transplantation to patients with hepatic disease. The invention also is directed to an improved biologic extracorporeal liver support device wherein the improvement is the use of telomerase-immortalized hepatocytes incorporated onto the scaffolding of the cell colonization chamber and use of the improved device for treating symptoms of patients with hepatic disease.
10 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An immortalized cell, wherein said cell comprises:
a functional telomerase catalytic subunit, wherein said cell maintains at least one function specific to the cell type from which it was derived. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 16, 17)
- 9. A non-senescent, non-transformed immortalized human cell, wherein said cell has been cultured for at least about 35 population doublings.
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12. A method of obtaining an immortalized human cell, said method comprising the steps of:
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transducing a human cell with a nucleic acid encoding a functional telomerase catalytic subunit, whereby a transduced human cell is obtained; and
growing said transduced human cell so that said nucleic acid is expressed, whereby an immortalized human cell is obtained that maintains at least one function specific to said human cell from which it was derived. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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18. A method of ameliorating at least one symptom of hepatic disease in an individual in need thereof, said method comprising the step of:
transplanting to said individual a plurality of immortalized human hepatocytes that express a functional telomerase catalytic subunit and maintain at least one specific hepatic function, whereby at least one symptom of said hepatic disease is ameliorated.
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19. An immortalized pancreatic cell comprising:
a progenitor cell that expresses a functional telomerase catalytic subunit and maintains at least one specific pancreatic cell function. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification