Somatic human cells can divide a finite number of times, a phenomenon known as the Hayflick limit. It is based on the progressive erosion of the telomeric ends each time the cell completes a replicative cycle. Given this problem, researchers need cell lines that do not enter the senescence phase after a certain number of divisions. In this way, more lasting studies can be carried out over time and avoid the tedious work involved in performing cell passes to fresh media. However, some cells have a high replicative potential, such as embryonic stem cells and cancer cells. To accomplish this, these cells express the enzyme telomerase or activate the mechanisms of alternative telomere elongation, which favors the maintenance of the length of their stable telomeres. Researchers have been able to develop cell immortalization technology by studying the cellular and molecular bases of both mechanisms and the genes involved in the control of the cell cycle. Through it, cells with infinite replicative capacity are obtained. To obtain them, viral oncogenes/oncoproteins, myc genes, ectopic expression of telomerase, and the manipulation of genes that regulate the cell cycle, such as p53 and Rb, have been used.
Keywords: Hayflick limit; alternative telomere elongation; immortalization; telomerase; telomeres.