Exosomes derived from hTERT-immortalized cells delay cellular senescence of human fibroblasts

• Published in: Experimental gerontology Vol. 194; p. 112508
• Main Authors: Liu, Yang, Sheng, Zhaoying, Sun, Linlin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.09.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cellular senescence; Exosome; hTERT; Telomere length; hTERT; Telomere length; Exosome; Cellular senescence
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112508

hTERT gene therapies hold significant promise for treating age-related diseases. However, further research is required to address the challenges of delivery and ethical considerations. We hypothesized that exosomes derived from hTERT-immortalized cells could function similarly to hTERT gene therapies by maintaining telomere length and attenuating cellular senescence biomarkers. In this study, we overexpressed the hTERT gene in Human Foreskin Fibroblast-1 cells (HFF cells) to produce hTERT-immortalized HFF cells (hT-HFF cells). We then used exosomes derived from these hT-HFF cells to treat human fibroblasts, HFF cells. Our results demonstrated that these exosomes effectively attenuated biomarkers of cellular senescence in HFF cells. Furthermore, analysis revealed that hTERT mRNA was indeed packaged into the exosomes from hT-HFF cells. This mRNA was capable of elongating telomeres and delaying cellular senescence in HFF cells. Therefore, exosomes from hT-HFF cells show potential as a treatment for age-related diseases. •We generated hTERT-immortalized HFF cells (hT-HFF cells) by introducing hTERT gene into HFF cells.•Exosomes derived from hT-HFF cells were efficiently absorbed by human fibroblasts, HFF cells.•hTERT mRNA was packaged into exosomes derived from hT-HFF cells.•Exosomes derived from hT-HFF cells mitigated cellular senescence and restored telomere length in the recipient cells.•Exosomes from hT-HFF cells may function comparably to hTERT gene therapies for the treatment of age-related diseases.