Immortal+Cells+for+Longer+Life+Spans

Taking the advantage of the properties of immortal cells, various studies investigate on the viability of generating human embryonic organ cells, such as kidney cells, with extended life span through viral oncogene transfection. [3] It is also possible to immortalise the human fetal cells through immortalisation of the "umbilical cord blood-derived cells". [3] Although the majority of induced pluripotent stem cells do not maintain their length of telomeres, one-sixth(1/6) of the induced pluripotent stem cells are capable of resetting the aging clock. [2] Although the use of immortal induced pluripotent stem cells, have a risk of instigating cancer, it can postpone the occurrence of cancer while slowing down the aging process. [1][2]
 * Generating immortal cells for life longer spans:**

Figure1: A typical telomere with a DNA sequence of TTAGGG obtained from Fahy and Kent (2010). [2] It should be beneficial in some tissues telomere-based senescence occurs if ways of slowing down the shortening rate of telomere is discovered. [1]

By YongMin KIM //Last edited 11/11/2011//


 * References:**

[1] Abcouwer, S., Robinson, P. S., Goochee, C. F., & Crow, M. T. (1989). Generation of Human Embryonic Kidney Cells with Extended In Vitro Life Span through Viral Oncogene Transfection. //Nature Biotechnology//, Vol. 7: 939 - 946.

[2] Fahy, G. M., & Kent, S. (2010). //Immortal Stem Cells for Anti-Aging Therapies: An Interview// //with Michael// D. West, PhD. Life Extention.

[3] Terai, M., Uyama, T., Sugiki, T., Li, X. K., Umezawa, A., & Kiyono, T. (2005). Immortalization of Human Fetal Cells: The Life Span of Umbilical Cord Blood-derived Cells Can Be Prolonged without Manipulating p16INK4a/RB Braking Pathway. //Molecular Biology of// //the Cell//, Vol. 16:1491-1499.