Telomere dynamics in human cells reprogrammed to pluripotency

• Published in: PloS one 2009-12, Vol.4 (12), p.e8124-e8124
• Main Authors: Suhr, Steven T, Chang, Eun Ah, Rodriguez, Ramon M, Wang, Kai, Ross, Pablo J, Beyhan, Zeki, Murthy, Shashanka, Cibelli, Jose B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Aged; Aging; Analysis; Animal genetic engineering; Animal sciences; Autografts; Cancer; Cell culture; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Cell lines; Cellular Reprogramming - genetics; Chromosomes; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Developmental Biology/Aging; Developmental Biology/Cell Differentiation; Developmental Biology/Embryology; Developmental Biology/Stem Cells; DNA; Elongation; Embryo cells; Embryonic stem cells; Embryos; Explants; Fibroblasts; Fibroblasts - cytology; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Genetic Vectors - genetics; Genomes; Health aspects; Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - cytology; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - metabolism; Laboratories; Lentivirus - genetics; Male; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; Phenotype; Pluripotency; Skin; Somatic cells; Stem cell transplantation; Stem cells; Telomerase; Telomere - metabolism; Telomeres; Teratoma; Teratoma - pathology; Tissues; Zoology
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008124

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) have enormous potential in the development of cellular models of human disease and represent a potential source of autologous cells and tissues for therapeutic use. A question remains as to the biological age of IPSCs, in particular when isolated from older subjects. Studies of cloned animals indicate that somatic cells reprogrammed to pluripotency variably display telomere elongation, a common indicator of cell "rejuvenation." We examined telomere lengths in human skin fibroblasts isolated from younger and older subjects, fibroblasts converted to IPSCs, and IPSCs redifferentiated through teratoma formation and explant culture. In IPSCs analyzed at passage five (P5), telomeres were significantly elongated in 6/7 lines by >40% and approximated telomere lengths in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). In cell lines derived from three IPSC-teratoma explants cultured to P5, two displayed telomeres shortened to lengths similar to input fibroblasts while the third line retained elongated telomeres. While these results reveal some heterogeneity in the reprogramming process with respect to telomere length, human somatic cells reprogrammed to pluripotency generally displayed elongated telomeres that suggest that they will not age prematurely when isolated from subjects of essentially any age.