Adrenocortical cells immortalized by telomerase: Potential use for ex vivogene therapy

Telomerization, the process of immortalization of normal cells by expressio n of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), could be of great use in biom edicine if the process allows cells to retain their normal properties and d oes not promote neoplastic transformation. In this article, we review the d ata on the potential uses of telomerized cells in ex vivo gene therapy, and discuss the issue of the potential risks of the use of this technology. We present preliminary data on the transplantation of telomerized bovine adre nocortical cells in the rat brain. Like other cell types, adrenocortical ce lls may be engineered to secrete desirable gene products. Currently, proble ms of immune rejection limit the usefulness of this potential therapy. We d iscuss future improvements in this cell transplantation system that could a ddress these questions. Telomerization, by removing the senescence barrier to unlimited cell proliferation, will greatly aid the genetic modification of cells in order to solve the issue of immune rejection and other problems .