Reconstitution of human telomerase with the template RNA component hTR and the catalytic protein subunit hTRT.

The maintenance of chromosome termini, or telomeres, requires the action of the enzyme telomerase, as conventional DNA polymerases cannot fully replicate the ends of linear molecules. Telomerase is expressed and telomere length is maintained in human germ cells and the great majority of primary human tumours. However, telomerase is not detectable in most normal somatic cells; this corresponds to the gradual telomere loss observed with each cell division. It has been proposed that telomere erosion eventually signals entry into senescence or cell crisis and that activation of telomerase is usually required for immortal cell proliferation. In addition to the human telomerase RNA component (hTR; ref. 11), TR1/TLP1 (refs 12, 13), a protein that is homologous to the p80 protein associated with the Tetrahymena enzyme, has been identified in humans. More recently, the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT; refs 15, 16), which is homologous to the reverse transcriptase (RT)-like proteins associated with the Euplotes aediculatus (Ea_p123), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Est2p) and Schizosaccharomyces pombe (5pTrt1) telomerases, has been reported to be a telomerase protein subunit. A catalytic function has been demonstrated for Est2p in the RT-like class but not for p80 or its homologues. We now report that in vitro transcription and translation of hTRT when co-synthesized or mixed with hTR reconstitutes telomerase activity that exhibits enzymatic properties like those of the native enzyme. Single amino-acid changes in conserved telomerase-specific and RT motifs reduce or abolish activity, providing direct evidence that hTRT is the catalytic protein component of telomerase. Normal human diploid cells transiently expressing hTRT possessed telomerase activity, demonstrating that hTRT is the limiting component necessary for restoration of telomerase activity in these cells. The ability to reconstitute telomerase permits further analysis of its biochemical and biological roles in cell aging and carcinogenesis.

Retesting the commitment theory of cellular aging.

The commitment theory of human fibroblast aging predicts that 55 percent of cells will be nondividing at the middle to late stages of the replicative lifespan; in the present study, however, fewer than 10 percent were nondividing. The fact that no immortal diploid cells have yet been reported is also at odds with the theory. Available data on the variable life-span of clones and mass cultures, the dependence of longevity on population size, and the predominance of certain cell types at termination of a culture are compatible with simpler theories, which support the idea that the limited replicative life-span of diploid fibroblasts is a valid model for organismic aging.

Telomerase catalytic subunit homologs from fission yeast and human.

Catalytic protein subunits of telomerase from the ciliate Euplotes aediculatus and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain reverse transcriptase motifs. Here the homologous genes from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and human are identified. Disruption of the S. pombe gene resulted in telomere shortening and senescence, and expression of mRNA from the human gene correlated with telomerase activity in cell lines. Sequence comparisons placed the telomerase proteins in the reverse transcriptase family but revealed hallmarks that distinguish them from retroviral and retrotransposon relatives. Thus, the proposed telomerase catalytic subunits are phylogenetically conserved and represent a deep branch in the evolution of reverse transcriptases.

Specific association of human telomerase activity with immortal cells and cancer.

Synthesis of DNA at chromosome ends by telomerase may be necessary for indefinite proliferation of human cells. A highly sensitive assay for measuring telomerase activity was developed. In cultured cells representing 18 different human tissues, 98 of 100 immortal and none of 22 mortal populations were positive for telomerase. Similarly, 90 of 101 biopsies representing 12 human tumor types and none of 50 normal somatic tissues were positive. Normal ovaries and testes were positive, but benign tumors such as fibroids were negative. Thus, telomerase appears to be stringently repressed in normal human somatic tissues but reactivated in cancer, where immortal cells are likely required to maintain tumor growth.

Extension of life-span by introduction of telomerase into normal human cells.

Normal human cells undergo a finite number of cell divisions and ultimately enter a nondividing state called replicative senescence. It has been proposed that telomere shortening is the molecular clock that triggers senescence. To test this hypothesis, two telomerase-negative normal human cell types, retinal pigment epithelial cells and foreskin fibroblasts, were transfected with vectors encoding the human telomerase catalytic subunit. In contrast to telomerase-negative control clones, which exhibited telomere shortening and senescence, telomerase-expressing clones had elongated telomeres, divided vigorously, and showed reduced straining for beta-galactosidase, a biomarker for senescence. Notably, the telomerase-expressing clones have a normal karyotype and have already exceeded their normal life-span by at least 20 doublings, thus establishing a causal relationship between telomere shortening and in vitro cellular senescence. The ability to maintain normal human cells in a phenotypically youthful state could have important applications in research and medicine.

Telomeres and telomerase in aging and cancer.

Telomeres are maintained by the novel ribonucleoprotein enzyme telomerase. Telomerase activity is repressed in most somatic human cells, leading to telomere loss during replicative aging in vivo and in vitro. However, telomerase appears to be reactivated in essentially all human cancers. With the recent cloning of the RNA component of telomerase from several species, the stage is now set for critical tests of the role of telomeres and telomerase in aging and cancer.

Decreased sensitivity of old and progeric human fibroblasts to a preparation of factors with insulinlike activity.

To determine whether old cells have a reduced response to a preparation of factors from human plasma with insulinlike activity (ILA), we analyzed the response to ILA of early and late passage human fibroblasts from young, old, and progeric donors in the acute stimulation of [3H]2-deoxy-D-glucose (2dG) uptake and the delayed stimulation of [3H]thymidine (TdR) incorporation into DNA. The ILA concentration required to produce equivalent, relative stimulation of TdR incorporation was increased two- to three-fold in late passage cells and cells from old and progeric donors (P less than 0.01). 50 and 95% of maximal stimulation (ILA50, ILA95) was achieved by 0.26 +/- 0.07 and 1.38 +/- 0.13 ng insulin equivalents/ml (mean +/- SD) respectively, in cells from young adults at early passage. Corresponding values were 0.54 +/- 0.05 and 2.90 +/- 0.25 in cells from old donors; greater than 0.9 +/- 0.1 and greater than 3.1 +/- 0.1 in cells from a 9-yr-old progeric donor; and 0.4 +/- 0.05 and 1.1 +/- 0.04 in cells from normal children (9-13 yr). For two cell strains from young adults, ILA50 and ILA95 were 0.30 +/- 0.02 and 1.0 +/- 0.3 ng eq/ml at 30% of their in vitro lifespan completed (%LC) and these values increased at rates of 0.005 ng eq/ml per %LC and 0.04 ng eq/ml per %LC, respectively. The mean stimulation of 2dG uptake ratio (ILA/control) decreased from early to late passage from 2.1 +/- 0.6 to 1.3 +/- 0.1 in young adult donors (P less than 0.05), but there were no significant differences between young and old donors at either early or late passage. The mean stimulation ratio in progeric cells (1.2 +/- 0.2) did not change with in vitro passage, but was significantly lower than that of age-matched normal cells (2.1 +/- 0.8, P less than 0.001). In progeria cells, the reduced stimulation of 2dG uptake upon addition of ILA was due to an increased basal rate of uptake (0.19 +/- 0.01 pmol [3H]2dG/min per mg protein vs. 0.13 +/- 0.01 in age-matched normal cells), and not to a decline in the maximal rate of uptake (0.26 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.27 +/- 0.02, respectively). Similar results were found for in vitro aging in cells from an old donor.

Eosinophils in chronically inflamed human upper airway tissues express transforming growth factor beta 1 gene (TGF beta 1).

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) is a multifunctional protein which has been suggested to play a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Nasal polyposis is a condition affecting the upper airways characterized by the presence of chronic inflammation and varying degrees of fibrosis. To examine the potential role of TGF beta in the pathogenesis of this condition, we investigated gene expression and cytokine production in nasal polyp tissues as well as in the normal nasal mucosa. By Northern blot analysis using a porcine TGF beta 1 cDNA probe, we detected TGF beta 1-specific mRNA in nasal polyp tissues, as well as in the tissue from a patient with allergic rhinitis, but not in the normal nasal mucosa. By the combination of tissue section staining with chromotrope 2R with in situ hybridization using the same TGF beta 1 probe, we found that approximately 50% of the eosinophils infiltrating the polyp tissue express the TGF beta 1 gene. In addition, immunohistochemical localization of TGF beta 1 was detected associated with extracellular matrix as well as in cells in the stroma. These results suggest that in nasal polyposis where eosinophils are the most prevalent inflammatory cell, TGF beta 1 synthesized by these cells may contribute to the structural abnormalities such as stromal fibrosis and basement membrane thickening which characterize this disease.

Primary structure of a human mitochondrial protein homologous to the bacterial and plant chaperonins and to the 65-kilodalton mycobacterial antigen.

The complete cDNA for a human mitochondrial protein designated P1, which was previously identified as a microtubule-related protein, has been cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence of P1 shows strong homology (40 to 50% identical residues and an additional 20% conservative replacements) to the 65-kilodalton major antigen of mycobacteria, to the GroEL protein of Escherichia coli, and to the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (rubisco) subunit binding protein of plant chloroplasts. Similar to the case with the latter two proteins, which have been shown to act as chaperonins in the posttranslational assembly of oligomeric protein structures, it is suggested that P1 may play a similar role in mammalian cells. The observed high degree of homology between human P1 and mycobacterial antigen also suggests the possible involvement of this protein in certain autoimmune diseases.

Ribozyme cleavage of telomerase mRNA sensitizes breast epithelial cells to inhibitors of topoisomerase.

Telomerase activity is necessary and sufficient for immortality in many cells and hence represents a prime target for antitumor strategies. Here, we show that a hammerhead ribozyme cleaves human telomerase (hTERT) mRNA in vitro. Stable transfection in clones of the human breast tumor line MCF-7 and the immortal breast cell line HBL-100 results in expression of the ribozyme, diminishes the abundance of hTERT mRNA, and inhibits telomerase activity. This led to shortened telomeres, inhibition of net growth, and induction of apoptosis. In HBL-100 mass cultures infected with a ribozyme-expressing adenovirus diminution of hTERT mRNA, attenuation of telomerase activity, inhibition of net growth, and induction of apoptosis was found as well. Attenuation of telomerase activity increased the sensitivity of HBL-100 and MCF-7 clones specifically to inhibitors of topoisomerase. Likewise, expression of exogenous telomerase in originally telomerase-negative human fibroblasts decreased their sensitivity to topoisomerase poisons but not to a number of other cytotoxic drugs. The data validate a ribozyme approach for telomerase inhibition therapy in cancer and suggest that it might be combined advantageously with topoisomerase-directed chemotherapy.

Telomerase activity in normal and malignant murine tissues.

Telomere shortening may contribute to the limited lifespan of somatic cells and telomerase, the enzyme that elongates telomeric DNA and maintains telomere length, may be essential for unlimited cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro. Telomerase is not expressed in most human somatic cells but is a nearly ubiquitous tumour marker, being activated in malignant cells from many cancers. Inhibition of telomerase may lead to telomere shortening and eventually limit the proliferative capacity of malignant cells and hence be of therapeutic value. With the intent of characterizing an animal model for inhibition studies, we investigated telomerase activity during mammary tumorigenesis in transgenic mice overexpressing the neu gene. We detected activity in primary mammary tumours and lung metastases but also in normal mammary glands and other organs. Activity was elevated in tumors versus normal tissues and was enhanced by short-term culturing of normal cells. Telomerase activity was also present in somatic tissues from the non-transgenic parental strain and the outbred Mus spretus strain. As we recently detected telomerase activity in normal human hemopoietic tissues, mouse models of tumorigenesis may provide useful experimental systems for assessing the outcome of in vivo inhibition of telomerase in both malignant and normal cells.

Telomere end-replication problem and cell aging.

Since DNA polymerase requires a labile primer to initiate unidirectional 5'-3' synthesis, some bases at the 3' end of each template strand are not copied unless special mechanisms bypass this "end-replication" problem. Immortal eukaryotic cells, including transformed human cells, apparently use telomerase, an enzyme that elongates telomeres, to overcome incomplete end-replication. However, telomerase has not been detected in normal somatic cells, and these cells lose telomeres with age. Therefore, to better understand the consequences of incomplete replication, we modeled this process for a population of dividing cells. The analysis suggests four things. First, if single-stranded overhangs generated by incomplete replication are not degraded, then mean telomere length decreases by 0.25 of a deletion event per generation. If overhangs are degraded, the rate doubles. Data showing a decrease of about 50 base-pairs per generation in fibroblasts suggest that a full deletion event is 100 to 200 base-pairs. Second, if cells senesce after 80 doublings in vitro, mean telomere length decreases about 4000 base-pairs, but one or more telomeres in each cell will lose significantly more telomeric DNA. A checkpoint for regulation of cell growth may be signalled at that point. Third, variation in telomere length predicted by the model is consistent with the abrupt decline in dividing cells at senescence. Finally, variation in length of terminal restriction fragments is not fully explained by incomplete replication, suggesting significant interchromosomal variation in the length of telomeric or subtelomeric repeats. This analysis, together with assumptions allowing dominance of telomerase inactivation, suggests that telomere loss could explain cell cycle exit in human fibroblasts.

In situ detection of interleukin-1 mRNA in human monocytes.

The interleukin-1 (IL-1) family of soluble pleiotropic immunoregulatory and proinflammatory peptides has at least two distinct members, alpha IL-1 and beta IL-1. Since beta IL-1 is the predominant species in human monocytes, this study was undertaken to identify its mRNA in monocytes using in situ hybridization with a 35S-dCTP labelled beta IL-1 cDNA probe. Grain count analysis demonstrated that adherent lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes were positive, while unstimulated monocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils, and cells probed with vector only (35S-labelled pBR322) were all negative. We have also shown that in situ hybridization is approx. 13-fold more sensitive than conventional hybridization and in addition this technique allows visualization of mRNA coding for IL-1 in individual cells with morphology preserved. We conclude that in situ hybridization is a specific and sensitive technique for the detection of beta IL-1 mRNA in individual human peripheral blood monocytes.

Identification and characterization of a partial cDNA expressing interleukin-1-like activity in keratinocytes.

A partial cDNA has been isolated from the human keratinocyte cell line COLO-16 which is distinct from either IL-1 alpha or beta and encodes a protein which displays some of the biological properties associated with IL-1. The 720 bp partial cDNA hybridized on Northern blots of COLO-16 mRNA to a 1.6 kbp message of low abundance. Expression of the partial cDNA in COS-1 cells resulted in activity in three IL-1 assays: thymocyte co-stimulation, D10.G4.1 T-cell stimulation and fibroblast proliferation. Antisera generated against synthetic peptides based on inferred protein sequence from the cDNA reacted with a 20 kDa and 30 kDa species in both the COLO-16 cell line and PMA-stimulated normal human keratinocytes. These novel species were also present in PMA-stimulated and unstimulated human dermal fibroblasts and human T-cell lines.

Shortened telomeres in the expanded CD28-CD8+ cell subset in HIV disease implicate replicative senescence in HIV pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the expanded population of non-proliferative CD28-CD8+ T cells in HIV disease have shortened telomeres, thereby providing evidence that increased rounds of CD8+ cell division occur during HIV disease, possibly leading to replicative senescence and exhaustion of CD8+ T-cell responses. DESIGN: CD8+ cells play a central role in control of HIV infection. In late HIV disease, an expanded population of CD28-CD8+ cells with reduced proliferative potential has been documented. A similar population of CD28-CD8+ cells has been identified in ageing humans, where telomere length measurements have suggested that these cells have reached the irreversible state of replicative senescence. METHODS: CD8+ cells from HIV-infected and control subjects were sorted by flow cytometry into CD28+ and CD28- fractions. Telomere lengths were determined as mean terminal restriction fragment (TRF) lengths by Southern hybridization. RESULTS: The TRF lengths of sorted CD28-CD8+ cells in HIV-infected subjects ranged between 5 and 7 kilobases (kb) and were significantly shorter than TRF lengths of CD28-CD8+ cells in uninfected subjects (P = 0.003). The TRF length in CD28-CD8+ cells from HIV-infected subjects was the same as that observed for centenarian peripheral blood mononuclear cells and is compatible with a state of replicative senescence. CONCLUSIONS: The shortened telomeres in the CD28-CD8+ cells in HIV-infected subjects and the poor proliferative potential of these cells identifies CD8+ cell replicative senescence as a newly described feature of HIV disease. Our results provide a mechanism for the loss of CD8+ cell control of viral replication that accompanies advanced HIV disease. Replicative senescence may contribute to exhaustion of the T-cell response as a result of chronic HIV disease. Whether this phenomenon occurs in other chronic viral infections is unknown.

Expression of mRNA homologous to interleukin 1 in human epidermal cells.

Epidermal cells produce an interleukin 1 (IL-1)-related molecule known as epidermal cell-derived thymocyte activating factor (ETAF). Given their similar physical and biologic properties, it was presumed that ETAF would share homology to known IL-1 sequences. A murine IL-1 alpha complimentary DNA (cDNA) probe hybridized with a 2.1 kb RNA from the murine keratinocyte cell line PAMM 212. Further, a 24-base synthetic IL-1 beta probe complementary to a region 700 bases from the putative 5'-end of human IL-1 beta hybridized with 2.7- and 1.6-kb RNAs in human keratinocytes, monocytes, and promyelocytic leukemia cells. Reverse transcripts primed with the IL-1 beta oligonucleotide revealed major first-strand cDNAs from human keratinocyte COLO-16 cell mRNA and human monocyte mRNA of about 700 bases, consistent with the expected cDNA from IL-1 beta. A partial library constructed from this cDNA contained clones that hybridized with the IL-1 beta oligonucleotide. The 750 bp-IL-1 beta-like cDNA clones were not identical to IL-1 beta as judged by restriction mapping and Northern analysis. These cDNA clones hybridized with the 1.6-kb keratinocyte mRNA but not to the 1.6-kb monocyte nor to the 2.7-kb mRNA. The 1.6-kb keratinocyte mRNA may encode a new IL-1-like species.

Ca2+ and phorbol ester synergistically induce HL-60 differentiation.

Exposure of HL-60 cells to subthreshold concentrations of TPA caused monocytic differentiation only when cells were cotreated with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Phorbol ester dose-response curves for growth arrest and enzymatic markers of differentiation were shifted to lower concentrations when the ionophore was present. Expression of a monocyte/granulocyte cell surface antigen also occurred only when cells were treated with both agents. Similar effects were seen with other active but not inactive phorbol esters and with another Ca2+ ionophore. The Ca2+ component of phosphoinositide-based signalling may thus play a role in HL-60 differentiation.

Metallothionein RNA levels in HL-60 cells. Effect of cadmium, differentiation, and protein kinase C activation.

Metallothionein (MT) gene transcription is regulated in a developmental and tissue-specific manner by metal ions and other agents. We examined MT expression in the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 during differentiation along macrophage and neutrophil lineages. All HL-60 phenotypes showed similar basal levels of MT RNA with significant induction following exposure to Cd2+ but not activators of PKC. MT RNA did not correlate with growth state or with known levels of PKC activity, thus our data do not support a role for MT in HL-60 differentiation or for PKC in MT expression.

Effect of vitamin E on lifespan and reproduction in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Vitamin E extends the lifespan of many animals, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results confirm previous studies that 200 micrograms/ml vitamin E significantly prolonged C. elegans survival (17-23%, P less than 0.05) when added from hatching to day 3, while continuous exposure, either at hatching or from 4 days prior to hatching, had little additional effect. Treatment with 100 or 400 micrograms/ml vitamin E, or with other antioxidants (80 micrograms/ml vitamin C, either alone or in combination with vitamin E, or 120 micrograms/ml N,N'-diphenyl-1,4-diphenylenediamine (DPPD] did not significantly affect lifespan. All treatments with 200 micrograms/ml vitamin E moderately reduced fecundity (total progeny) and increased the mean day of reproduction. At 400 micrograms/ml, vitamin E had severe effects, while DPPD, vitamin C, and 100 micrograms/ml vitamin E had slight effects on both these parameters of reproduction. These data suggest that vitamin E increases lifespan in C. elegans in part by slowing development in the same manner that metabolic-depressant or mildly cytotoxic drugs increase lifespan, decrease fecundity, and delay the timing of reproduction.

Fetal bovine serum contains an inhibitor of interleukin-1.

The keratinocyte cell line COLO-16 constitutively produces factors with interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity including IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta. IL-1 activity assayed by thymocyte proliferation from cell supernatants was 20-50% less if cells were maintained in media containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) compared to media without serum 24 h prior to harvest. The increased IL-1 activity in supernatants from cells in serum free media was not due to increased cellular levels of IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta mRNA. Similarly, IL-1 activity recovered from conditioned supernatants of COS cells transfected with expression vectors containing IL-1 beta cDNA was approximately 22-45% less in cells grown in 20% FBS medium compared to similar cultures grown for 3 days post transfection in 1% FBS. When serial dilutions of recombinant IL-1 were made in buffer containing 10% FBS and assayed by a thymocyte proliferation method, a 30-50% decrease in activity was observed. IL-1 activity was also measured by its ability to induce prostaglandin E2 synthesis by fibroblasts. When COS conditioned supernatants were applied to fibroblast cultures there was 30% less prostaglandin E2 activity from fibroblasts treated with COS supernatants containing 20% FBS, compared to supernatants containing 1% FBS. The inhibitor molecule was partially purified by gel filtration and found to have a molecular weight of approximately 85,000. The presence of FBS in cell-conditioned media significantly reduces the sensitivity of IL-1 detection by bioassay techniques.