title: Telomerase-based immortalization modifies the angiogenic/inflammatory responses of human coronary artery endothelial cells.
abstract: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is fundamental in determining the life span by regulating telomere length of chromosomes. To address the question whether the enhancement of the proliferative potential hampers cell differentiation, we generated TERT-over-expressing endothelial cells (ECs) and analyzed in vitro their (1) barrier function; (2) low-density lipoprotein uptake; (3) expression pattern of six selected marker proteins; (4) angiogenic potential in four assays; and (5) inflammatory responses. In contrast to investigations with focus on other cell parameters, we demonstrate that immortalization of ECs by over-expression of TERT resulted in different angiogenic and inflammatory behavior in comparison to cells with low native telomerase levels.
authors.affiliation: Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, Regenerative Medicine I, Markwiesenstrasse 55, Reutlingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Baumer
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ivanov
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schlosshauer
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D019098:Telomerase