Abstract
The finding that telomere shortening limits the replicative lifespan of primary human cells has fueled speculations that telomere shortening plays a role during aging and regeneration of tissues in vivo. Support for this hypothesis comes from studies showing telomere shortening in a variety of human tissues as a consequence of aging and chronic disease. Studies in telomerase-dcficient mice have given first experimental support that telomere shortening limits the replicative potential of organs and tissues in vivo and have identified telomerase as a promising target to treat regenerative disorders induced by telomere shortening. A potential downside of such an approach could be the development of malignant tumors, which has been linked to reactivation of telomerase in human cancers. In telomerase-deficient mice, telomere shortening showed a dual role in tumorigenesis, enhancing the initiation of tumors by induction of chromosomal instability but inhibiting tumor progression by induction of DNA-damage responses. The success in using telomerase activation for the treatment of regenerative disorders could depend on which of the mechanisms of telomere shortening is dominantly effecting carcinogenesis.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 164-175 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Molecules and cells |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 2003 Apr |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology