[Characterization of growth and proliferation in a telomerase-immortalized ameloblastoma cell line].
OBJECTIVE
To establish and characterize the cell line of ameloblastoma (AM) by transfection with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT).


METHODS
Primary cultures of AM cells were infected with a retroviral vector encoding hTERT. Infected cells were selected and checked by immunocytochemistry (ICC), in vitro proliferation, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), senescence associated beta galactosidase staining (SA-beta-Gal staining), telomerase activity assay.


RESULTS
Compared to the uninfected cells, which arrested at the population doublings (PDL) of 6, the infected cells were more active in proliferation and reached 65 PDL to date. ICC confirmed the epithelial origin of the infected cells based on positive pan-cytokeratin and negative vimentin expression. There was no senescent signal in infected cells but not in uninfected cells. hTERT mRNA and telomerase activity were detected stably in infected cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The infected AM cells were immortalized after transfection with hTERT and can serve as a genetically defined model for AM study.
Tao
Qian
Q
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School and Hospital of Stomatology & Institute of Stomatological Research, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China. taoqian@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Lü
Biao
B
Qiao
Bin
B
Zheng
Chao-Qun
CQ
Chen
Zhi-Feng
ZF
D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012190:Retroviridae; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase