Immortalization with telomerase of the Nestin-positive cells of the human pancreas
KM Lee, C Nguyen, AB Ulrich, PM Pour… - … and biophysical research …, 2003 - Elsevier
KM Lee, C Nguyen, AB Ulrich, PM Pour, MM Ouellette
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2003•ElsevierCells expressing the neuronal stem cell marker Nestin are present in the human pancreas
but the biological role of these cells has yet to be resolved. We report here the establishment
with the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT) of a line of normal human cells
representing this cell type. Primary human cells derived from the ducts of the pancreas were
transduced with an hTERT cDNA. The infected cells became positive for telomerase, failed
to senesce, and were still proliferating after more than 150 doublings. The immortalized cells …
but the biological role of these cells has yet to be resolved. We report here the establishment
with the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT) of a line of normal human cells
representing this cell type. Primary human cells derived from the ducts of the pancreas were
transduced with an hTERT cDNA. The infected cells became positive for telomerase, failed
to senesce, and were still proliferating after more than 150 doublings. The immortalized cells …
Cells expressing the neuronal stem cell marker Nestin are present in the human pancreas but the biological role of these cells has yet to be resolved. We report here the establishment with the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT) of a line of normal human cells representing this cell type. Primary human cells derived from the ducts of the pancreas were transduced with an hTERT cDNA. The infected cells became positive for telomerase, failed to senesce, and were still proliferating after more than 150 doublings. The immortalized cells were positive for the expression of Nestin (at both the mRNA and protein levels) and were found to be free of cancer-associated changes: diploid and expressing wild type p16INK4a, p53, and K-Ras. An established line of normal human cells representing this cell type should be of great value to help define the biological properties of this novel cell type.
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