A recent study focused on genetically modified mice, known as TertKI, which express the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene using a controlled method to avoid safety concerns associated with viral techniques.

The findings revealed that TertKI mice experienced a significant lifespan extension, with a 27.48% increase in maximal lifespan and a 16.57% increase in median lifespan compared to their wild-type counterparts.

Experiments confirmed that TertKI mice exhibited increased TERT expression, telomerase activity, and longer telomeres, although the expression levels varied across different organs.

Additionally, TERT expression appeared to provide benefits in models of induced colon inflammation, as TertKI mice showed less injury compared to wild-type mice.

The study also linked TERT's role in lifespan extension to its modulation of oxidative stress, with increased antioxidant levels observed in the liver of TertKI mice.

Moreover, TertKI mice demonstrated enhanced tissue repair capabilities, including improved hair growth, faster wound healing, and better collagen remodeling after skin injuries.

While autopsy results indicated some cases of enlarged liver and spleen in TertKI mice, no signs of tumor growth were detected, suggesting a lack of significant side effects.

Safety assessments further indicated that TertKI mice showed no DNA damage or fetal growth issues, with some health indicators reflecting improved results.

Importantly, TertKI mice displayed no developmental issues, successfully inheriting the transgene for at least five generations without differences in physical traits compared to wild-type mice.

Notable growth differences were observed, particularly in early postnatal stages, where TertKI mice gained weight more rapidly.

However, the study's limitations include its focus on a specific mouse strain, Black 6, raising questions about the generalizability of the findings to human therapies.

Future research is essential to explore practical and safe methods for TERT overexpression that could potentially be applicable to human medicine.