Up-regulation of telomerase activity in Herpesvirus saimiri immortalized human T-lymphocytes
Harnack, U.; Lehmann, C.; Matthes, E.; Pecher, G.
Anticancer Research 21(6a): 3969-3972
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 11911278 Document Number: 540423
Human T-lymphocytes can be transformed to unlimited growth by Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS). We studied the telomerase activity of a recently established HVS immortalized human CD4 T cell clone in comparison to peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and unstimulated or phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated CD4 T-cells by a Telomeric Repeat Amplification-Protocol (TRAP) -Assay. Telomerase activity in PHA-stimulated CD4 T-cells was seven-fold and in HVS-infected CD4 T-cells 14-fold higher than in untreated CD4 T-cells. The HVS immortalized T-cell clone provides a useful tool for studying the regulation of telomerase activity during carcinogenesis and for testing of telomerase-inhibitory drugs.