Reversible downregulation of telomerase activity by hyperthermia in osteosarcoma cells

Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme, maintains telomere length and is expressed by the majority of malignant tumours, but not in normal tissue. Telomerase facilitates the division of tumour cells and its activity has been suggested as a prognostic indicator, but so far the regulation or modulation of telomerase activity has not been described. Hyperthermia has been shown to decrease tumour growth by inhibition of proliferation. Therefore, the effect of hyperthermia on telomerase activity in human osteosarcoma cells was studied. Telomerase activity was measured by the Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol (TRAP) assay in three different osteosarcoma cell lines subjected to hyperthermia (42.5 degrees C, 90 min) and in controls cultured under basal conditions (37 degrees C). Telomerase activity was strongly inhibited by hyperthermia and decreased in all cell lines tested after a recovery time of 2 h under basal conditions (37 degrees C) to an activity of approximately 85%, after 12 h approximately 60% and with lowest activity approximately 55% compared to activity of control cells. Telomerase activity then increased and reached the same, i.e. basal, level as before hyperthermia, after 112 h. These results show that hyperthermia results in a reversible downregulation of telomerase activity in osteosarcoma cells. This effect facilities studies on the regulation of telomerase activity and detailed information might lead to new therapeutic strategies.