Telomerase prevents the accelerated cell ageing of Werner syndrome fibroblasts.

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Werner syndrome (WS) is a rare disorder inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and characterized by accelerated ageing1. WS fibroblasts display an accelerated rate of senescence in vitro2, which has been linked to this progeroid phenotype. The senescence of normal human fibroblasts is triggered by telomere shortening3,4,5, whereas the premature senescence of WS fibroblasts has been assumed6,7 to reflect the accumulation of DNA damage. Here we show that forced expression of telomerase in WS confers extended cellular lifespan and probable immortality.