Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) can develop into bone cells and are useful for engineering and regeneration. When grown in vitro they quickly lose their ability to continue dividing and they die.
Genetically engineering hMSCs, by inserting telomerase (TERT), renders them immortal and they still retain the ability to become bone cells. TERT enhances the growth capacity of hMSCs and results in stable hMSC lines that can be grown in culture through repeated cell divisions and being able to differentiate into osteoblasts for potential use in bone engineering applications [http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/biores.2012.0252#utm_source=PR&]utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BIORES].
