Figure 1.
Following hTERT immortalization, OMLP-PCL demonstrated a normal fibroblast morphology whilst cultured in a puromycin selection medium (A), continued to proliferate past the senescent point of a matched Mock cell strain (cells treated and transfected in an identical way to the immortalized cells except an empty vector was used instead (ie, no hTERT was added to the cells) (B; arrow indicates point of immortalization) and demonstrated successful incorporation of the hTERT gene which was confirmed by RT-PCR (C). Flow cytometry demonstrated the OMLP-PCL retained its progenitor cell surface characteristics being CD90, CD105, and CD166 positive but negative for CD34 and CD45 (D). Scale bar = 100 μm.