[Study on the expression of telomerase RNA in leukocyte]

Total cDNA of human telomerase RNA(hTR) gene was cloned by means of RT-PCR and inverted into retroviral vector (pLNCX) to construct the mammalian cell expression plasmid. Then, by using lipofectin-mediated DNA transfection, the obtained expression plasmid was successfully transfected into human normal peripheral blood leukocyte. All data suggested that expression of transfected exogenous hTR gene can not reconstitute telomerase activity. Flow cytometry analysis and data from cell growth curve also indicated that expression of exogenous gene can not prolong the longevity of leukocyte, but rather inhibit the growth of leukocyte and induce its apoptosis. We conclude that expression of exogenous gene may block the coalition of telomerase RNA and its catalytic subunit(hTRT) and block the coalition of telomerase RNA template and telomere DNA, thus affecting telomerase activity and repressing cell proliferation.