Hepatocytes with extensive telomere deprotection and fusion remain viable and regenerate liver mass through endoreduplication

Mouse liver cells are highly resistant to extensive telomere dysfunction and the consequences of telomere dysfunction in noncycling cells are determined by using conditional deletion of the telomeric protein TRF2 in hepatocytes. The nondividing hepatocytes are found to maintain and regenerate liver function despite substantial loss of telomere integrity.