Differentiation Capacity of Human Urine-Derived Stem Cells to Retain Telomerase Activity

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Telomerase activity is essential for the self-renewal and potential of embryonic, induced pluripotent, and cancer stem cells, as well as a few somatic stem cells, such as human urine-derived stem cells (USCs). However, it remains unclear how telomerase activity affects the regeneration potential of somatic stem cells. The objective of this study was to determine the regenerative significance of telomerase activity, particularly to retain cell surface marker expression, multipotent differentiation capability, chromosomal stability, and in vivo tumorigenic transformation, in each clonal population of human primary USCs. In total, 117 USC specimens from 10 healthy male adults (25-57 years of age) were obtained. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of a telomeric repeat was used to detect USCs with positive telomerase activity (USCs TA+ ). A total of 80 USCs TA+ (70.2%) were identified from 117 USC clones, but they were not detected in the paired normal bladder smooth muscle cell and bone marrow stromal cell specimens. In the 20-40 years age group, approximately 75% of USC clones displayed positive telomerase activity, whereas in the 50 years age group, 59.2% of the USC clones expressed positive telomerase activity. USCs TA+ extended to passage 16, underwent 62.0 ± 4.8 population doublings, produced more cells, and were superior for osteogenic, myogenic, and uroepithelial differ

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.