Constitutive Expression of Human Telomerase Enhances the Proliferation Potential of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are highly desirable cells for bone engineering due to the inherent multi-potent nature of the cells. Unfortunately, there is a high degree of variability, as primary hMSC cultures quickly undergo replicative senescence with loss of proliferative potential as they are continually propagated in cell culture. We sought to reduce the variability of these cells by insertion and expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) to immortalize the cell line. hMSCs were transduced with a lentivirus containing the human TERT gene. The resulting cell line has been propagated through more than 70 population-doubling level (PDL) to date and continues to grow exhibiting the characteristic fibroblastic hMSC phenotype. Expression of TERT mRNA and protein activity was confirmed in the TERT-transduced cells. Mock-transduced hMSCs had almost undetectable levels of TERT mRNA and protein activity and lost proliferation potential at PDL 14. The enhanced growth capacity of the hMSC TERT cells was due to increased cell proliferation and reduced cellular senescence rather than due to inhibition of apoptosis. The multi-potent nature of the TERT cells was confirmed by differentiation toward the osteoblastic and adipogenic lineages in vitro. Osteoblastic differentiation was confirmed by both expression of alkaline phosphate and mineral deposition visualized by Alizarin Red staining. Adipogenic differentiation was confirmed by production of lipid droplets, which were detected by Oil Red-O staining. In summary, we have generated a stable hMSC line that can be continually propagated and retains both osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation potential.