Immortalization of human somatic cells ; possible stem cells.

通过导入人端粒酶逆转录酶（human telomerase reverse transcriptase，hTERT）基因，使人成纤维细胞、脐静脉内皮细胞、星形胶质细胞和肝细胞等体细胞永生化。唯一的例外是成骨细胞，其根本不能通过hTERT的引入来延长增殖寿命。所有hTERT导入的永生细胞表现出正常的表型。永生化肝细胞表达胆管特异性标志物，除了肝细胞特异性标志物，提示干细胞的特性，能够分化成肝细胞和胆管细胞。

Such human somatic cells as fibroblasts, umbirical vein endothelial cells, astrocytes, and hepatocytes were immortalized by an introduction with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene. Only an exception was osteoblast which could not be extended proliferative lifespan at all by hTERT introduction. All hTERT-introduced immortal cells showed normal phenotypes. Immortalized hepatocytes expressed bile duct specific markers in addition to hepatocyte specific markers, suggesting characteristics of stem cells which are able to differentiate into both hepatocytes and bile duct cells.