Abstract
Telomerase is active in early embryonic and fetal development but is down-regulated in all human somatic tissues before birth. Since telomerase is virtually absent or only transiently active in normal somatic cells throughout postnatal life, telomere length gradually decreases as a function of age in most human tissues. Although telomerase repression likely evolved as a tumor suppressor mechanism, a growing body of evidence from epidemiology and genetic studies point to a role of telomerase repression and short telomeres in a broad spectrum of diseases: (a) Humans with shorter than average telomere length are at increased risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, or infection; (b) Patients with Dyskeratosis congenita are born with shortened telomeres due to mutations in telomerase components, suffer from a variety of proliferative tissue disorders, and typically die early of bone marrow failure; and (c) Individuals with long-term chronic stress or infections have accelerated telomere shortening compared to age-matched counterparts. Telomerase activation may prove useful in the treatment of diseases associated with telomere loss. While human cells dividing in culture lose telomeric DNA and undergo changes that mirror certain age- or disease-associated changes in vivo, telomerase transduced cells have extended replicative capacities, increased resistance to stress, improved functional activities in vitro and in vivo, and no loss of differentiation capacity or growth control. In addition, telomerase transduction in vivo can prevent telomere dysfunction and cirrhotic changes in liver of telomerase knockout mice. Thus, pharmacological activation of telomerase has significant potential for the treatment of a broad spectrum of chronic or degenerative diseases.
Keywords: telomere, telomerase, disease, aging, dyskeratosis congenita, therapeutics, gene therapy
Current Molecular Medicine
Title: Telomerase Therapeutics for Degenerative Diseases
Volume: 5 Issue: 2
Author(s): Calvin B. Harley
Affiliation:
Keywords: telomere, telomerase, disease, aging, dyskeratosis congenita, therapeutics, gene therapy
Abstract: Telomerase is active in early embryonic and fetal development but is down-regulated in all human somatic tissues before birth. Since telomerase is virtually absent or only transiently active in normal somatic cells throughout postnatal life, telomere length gradually decreases as a function of age in most human tissues. Although telomerase repression likely evolved as a tumor suppressor mechanism, a growing body of evidence from epidemiology and genetic studies point to a role of telomerase repression and short telomeres in a broad spectrum of diseases: (a) Humans with shorter than average telomere length are at increased risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, or infection; (b) Patients with Dyskeratosis congenita are born with shortened telomeres due to mutations in telomerase components, suffer from a variety of proliferative tissue disorders, and typically die early of bone marrow failure; and (c) Individuals with long-term chronic stress or infections have accelerated telomere shortening compared to age-matched counterparts. Telomerase activation may prove useful in the treatment of diseases associated with telomere loss. While human cells dividing in culture lose telomeric DNA and undergo changes that mirror certain age- or disease-associated changes in vivo, telomerase transduced cells have extended replicative capacities, increased resistance to stress, improved functional activities in vitro and in vivo, and no loss of differentiation capacity or growth control. In addition, telomerase transduction in vivo can prevent telomere dysfunction and cirrhotic changes in liver of telomerase knockout mice. Thus, pharmacological activation of telomerase has significant potential for the treatment of a broad spectrum of chronic or degenerative diseases.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Harley B. Calvin, Telomerase Therapeutics for Degenerative Diseases, Current Molecular Medicine 2005; 5 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524053586671
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524053586671 |
Print ISSN 1566-5240 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5666 |

- Author Guidelines
- Bentham Author Support Services (BASS)
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Recent Developments in the Search for Biomarkers for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Diabetes
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Protein-mediated Fatty Acid Uptake in the Heart
Current Cardiology Reviews Future Therapeutic Strategies in Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy: Insights from the Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis Model
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Estrogen Regulation of Adipose Tissue Functions: Involvement of Estrogen Receptor Isoforms
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Metallocarboxypeptidases: Emerging Drug Targets in Biomedicine
Current Pharmaceutical Design Brain Angiotensin and Cardiovascular Reactivity to Negative and Positive Emotional Stress
Current Hypertension Reviews Determination of Selenium in Eggs of Different Birds Using Sample Digestion in a Reflux System and Hydride Generation Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry
Current Analytical Chemistry GPER/GPR30 and Regulation of Vascular Tone and Blood Pressure
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) Role of Vitamin E in Cellular Antioxidant Defense
Current Chemical Biology Resveratrol, A Neuroprotective Supplement for Alzheimer's Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Lipids in Cancer
Current Organic Chemistry A Glance on the Role of Bacterial Siderophore from the Perspectives of Medical and Biotechnological Approaches
Current Drug Targets Editorial: Paving the Way for Improved Antiplatelet Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Fallacy of the Longevity Elixir: Negligible Senescence May be Achieved, but Not by Using Something Physical
Current Aging Science Radiolabeled Probes Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors for Personalized Medicine
Current Pharmaceutical Design Antisense Oligonucleotides for the Treatment of Dyslipidemia
Current Pharmaceutical Design Long Term Complications in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients: What Every Pediatrician Should Know
Current Pediatric Reviews An Augmented Passive Immune Therapy to Treat Fulminant Bacterial Infections
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery The Implications of Sortilin/Vps10p Domain Receptors in Neurological and Human Diseases
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Recent Patents in Autophagy and Immune Response
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery