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Telomeres, cellular senescence, and aging: past and future
Madeline Eppard1,2, João F Passos3,4, Stella Victorelli5,6
1Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
Biogerontology
|December 27, 2023
Summary
This review explores telomeres and cellular senescence, highlighting their roles in aging and disease. It examines factors influencing telomere shortening and their impact on aging, even without significant shortening.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Gerontology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Alexey Olovnikov's 1971 proposal of the end-replication problem established the foundation for telomere research.
- Telomeres are crucial protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, critical for maintaining genomic stability.
- Cellular senescence, a state of irreversible growth arrest, is closely linked to telomere function and aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the complex relationship between cellular senescence and telomeres.
- To explore the role of telomeres in aging and age-related diseases.
- To investigate factors affecting telomere shortening and telomere-independent aging mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on telomeres, cellular senescence, and aging.
- Analysis of the end-replication problem and its implications.
- Examination of diverse factors influencing telomere dynamics.
Main Results:
- Telomeres play a multifaceted role in cellular senescence and aging.
- Telomere shortening is not the sole driver of aging; other mechanisms exist.
- Telomere attrition influences aging and age-related diseases significantly.
Conclusions:
- Olovnikov's foundational work on the end-replication problem continues to be central to understanding telomeres and aging.
- Further research into telomere biology is essential for comprehending aging and developing interventions for age-related diseases.
- Telomeres impact aging through both shortening-dependent and -independent pathways.
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