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Related Experiment Videos

Telomeres and aging.

Geraldine Aubert1, Peter M Lansdorp

  • 1Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Physiological Reviews
|April 9, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Telomeres protect chromosome ends, and their shortening with age contributes to cellular senescence and aging-associated diseases. Maintaining telomere length is crucial for cell longevity and preventing age-related disorders.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Telomeres are protective DNA sequences at chromosome ends, crucial for genomic stability.
  • Telomere length is regulated by telomerase and attrition occurs with cell division and aging.
  • Critically short telomeres trigger cellular senescence or apoptosis, impacting tissue function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of telomeres and telomerase in human aging.
  • To explore the link between telomere attrition and age-related diseases.
  • To highlight the implications of telomere dysfunction in disease pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on telomeres, telomerase, and aging.
  • Analysis of clinical data from patients with telomere-related disorders.

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  • Synthesis of current understanding of telomere biology in aging and disease.

    • Main Results:

    • Telomere length decreases with age in somatic cells, influencing cell fate.
    • Short or uncapped telomeres lead to genomic instability, senescence, and apoptosis.
    • Mutations in telomerase genes cause short telomeres, resulting in diseases like dyskeratosis congenita and cancer.

    Conclusions:

    • Telomeres and telomerase are critical regulators of cellular aging and lifespan.
    • Telomere attrition is a significant factor in the development of various age-associated diseases.
    • Dysfunctional telomeres contribute to both aging and cancer, underscoring their complex role.