Effect of tissue fixatives on telomere length determination by quantitative PCR

Telomere length is a well established marker of cellular senescence and thus biological age. Quantitative PCR allows the determination even from very low amounts of tissue by using telomere specific and single copy gene primers. Comparing a directly processed tissue sample to a 4% formaldehyde fixed one showed a significantly reduced efficiency of PCR reactions (mainly in single copy gene experiments) in a storage time-dependent manner resulting in an artificial increase in reported relative telomere length. This effect was not seen when the tissue was stored in RNA later solution. In summary, telomere length determination from formaldehyde fixed material by quantitative PCR is not a reliable method. Unfortunately therefore, many easily accessible tissue samples from pathology laboratories are unsuitable for this technique.     

The linear plasmid pSA3239 is essential for the replication of the Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. lavendulae CCM 3239 chromosome

We previously reported the complete genome of Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. lavendulae CCM 3239, containing the linear chromosome and the large linear plasmid pSA3239. Although the chromosome exhibited replication features characteristic for the archetypal end-patching replication, it lacked the tap/tpg gene pair for two proteins essential for this process. However, this archetypal tpgSa-tapSa operon is present in pSA3239. Complete genomic sequence of the S. lavendulae Del-LP strain lacking this plasmid revealed the circularization of its chromosome with a large deletion of both arms. These results suggest an essential role of pSA3239-encoded TapSa/TpgSa in the end-patching replication of the chromosome.     

Telomere und Telomerase

Zusammenfassung In letzter Zeit fanden spezielle Abschnitte des menschlichen Genoms in der Tumorforschung besondere Beachtung: die Telomere. Telomere, d.h. die Enden aller linearen eukaryotischen Chromosomen, bestehen aus repetitiven DNA-Sequenzen und aus spezifischen Proteinen. Die Funktion der Telomere besteht im Schutz der Chromosomenenden vor Degradation, Fusion und Rekombination. In den meisten somatischen Zellen verkürzen sich die Telomere mit jedem Zellzyklus. Im übertragenen Sinn kann dieser Verlust an telomeren DNA-Sequenzen als eine mitotische Uhr aufgefa?t werden, mit der eine Zelle die Anzahl der Zellteilungen z?hlt und Lebensspanne und Zellalterung dirigiert. Sind die Telomere bis zu einem kritischen Punkt verkürzt, erfolgt die Einleitung des Apoptoseprozesses. Einige wenige Zelltypen entgehen der zellul?ren Seneszenz durch die Expression des Enzyms Telomerase. Dieses Ribonukleoprotein katalysiert die De-Novo-Addition von Nukleotiden an den Telomerenden. Das Enzym ist in den meisten somatischen Zellen in vivo nicht nachweisbar, wurde aber in der Mehrzahl aller Tumorgewebe gefunden. Die Aktivierung der Telomerase scheint Tumorzellen zu unbegrenzter Proliferation und zum Erreichen der Immortalit?t zu bef?higen. Aktuelle Studien zur Telomeraseaktivit?t in Tumoren unterstreichen, da? die Progression eines Tumorzellklons u.a. ma?geblich von der Aktivierung der Telomerase abh?ngt. Deshalb k?nnten Telomeraseinhibitoren neue M?glichkeiten in der Tumortherapie er?ffnen.      

The impact of telomere erosion on memory CD8+ T cells in patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome

Patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP) experience excessive T cell proliferation after primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, due to mutations in the signalling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) associated protein (SAP) molecule. We examined the impact of dysfunctional proliferative control on the extent of CD8+ T cell differentiation in XLP patients who recovered from primary EBV infection. Although these young patients have normal numbers of lytic and latent EBV-epitope-specific CD8+ T cells, they were extremely differentiated as defined by loss of CCR7 and CD27, low telomerase activity and very short telomeres. This was not a direct effect arising from the loss of SAP, but was due to excessive T cell stimulation due to this defect. Thus, transduction of XLP CD8+ T cells with the catalytic component of telomerase (hTERT), but not SAP, prevented telomere loss and considerably extended proliferative lifespan in vitro. These results indicate that excessive proliferation in CD8+ T cells in XLP patients may lead to end-stage differentiation and loss of functional EBV-specific CD8+ T cells through replicative senescence. This may contribute to the defective immunity found in XLP patients who survive acute EBV infection who develop EBV-related B cell lymphomas before the fourth decade of life.     

鼻咽癌染色体端粒长度变化的研究

为探讨人鼻咽癌染色体端粒行为异常与癌变的关系,应用 Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ 印迹杂交对 ３０ 例鼻咽癌和３０例与之年龄、性别配对的正常对照进行了分析。结果：鼻咽癌的端粒长度与对照相比显著缩短。在鼻咽癌中,１６１７％ 显示端粒伸长,７６．６７％ 显示端粒缩短,而６．６７％ 显示与对照相同的端粒长度。分析了 ３０ 例正常人外周血淋巴细胞端粒长度的变化,可见染色体端粒的长度随年龄增长而逐渐缩短（ｒ＝ － ０．３９１３, Ｐ＜ ０．０５）,并且端粒每年平均缩短 ３９ｂｐ 的核苷酸。结果提示：人鼻咽癌染色体不稳定可能与端粒长度缩短有关。     

人肺癌组织端粒酶活性与p16基因二者相关性探讨

目的:探讨非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)组织中端粒酶活性与p16基因的相关性及二者与肺癌发生发展的关系.方法:肺癌标本48例,12例癌旁组织,7例非肿瘤病例的正常肺组织.以Telomerase PCR ELISA检测标本端粒酶活性,以RT-PCR的方法检测p16基因mRNA转录情况,以免疫组化方法检测组织标本p16蛋白表达.结果:1)肺癌组织标本36/48(75.00%)和1例癌旁组织检出端粒酶活性.2)48例NSCLC组织中32例进行了p16 mRNA及蛋白表达检测.16/32(50.00%)检测到p16mRNA转录,7例正常组织中均检测到p16 mRNA转录.NSCLC组织标本中17/32(53.13%)未检测到p16蛋白表达,7例正常肺组织中均检测到p16蛋白表达.3)24例端粒酶阳性NSCLC组织中15例p16 mRNA表达缺失,8例端粒酶阴性的NSCLC组织中仅1例p16mRNA表达缺失.相关系数为-0.433,P=0.013,具有显著负相关.结论:端粒酶、p16基因在NSCLC的发生发展中起重要作用,端粒酶活性有望成为预测肿瘤发生、肿瘤诊断的良好指标.端粒、端粒酶与p16基因可能成为抗肿瘤治疗的新靶点.     

人喉鳞癌细胞端粒长度与放射敏感性的关系探讨

 目的 探讨人喉鳞癌细胞端粒长度与放射敏感性的关系,以寻求能够预测肿瘤细胞内在放射敏感性的分子标志物. 方法 体外长期传代的人喉鳞癌细胞系Hep-2经0、2、4、8、12Gy剂量照射3次后的存活后代体外培养20代,以克隆形成实验测定其放射敏感性参数SF2,用Southern-blotting法测定其端粒长度(TRF). 结果 体外长期传代的Hep-2细胞系随着受照剂量的增加, 其放射存活后代的SF2逐渐升高(P<0.05),其TRF逐渐缩短(P<0.01);而且,SF2与TRF呈现明显的正相关关系(r=0.921, P<0.01). 结论 通过不同放射剂量处理体外长期传代的人喉鳞癌细胞系可获得不同放射敏感性的细胞存活后代,且放射存活后代的放射敏感性与其细胞端粒长度具有较好的负相关关系,提示端粒长度检测有望成为预测肿瘤细胞内在放射敏感性的分子标志物.     

Function of telomere in aging and age related diseases

Telomeres consist of specialized non-coding DNA repeat sequences. They are essential for preserving the integrity of the genome during cancer development, senescence. Mammalian telomeres might have 1–50 kb of telomeric DNA, which becomes 40–200 base pairs shorter after per cell cycle, and becomes 5–8 kilobase shorter during senescence. There are many studies on the correlation of telomere length and aging rate. However, as the differences in the methods used in the studies and the scarcity of prospective studies, factors affecting telomere length are not really well understood. Some of the age related diseases may develop due to telomere dysfunction and telomere shortness. The short telomere structure detected in both peripheral blood leukocytes and cells of the disease-related tissue has the feature of being a predictive marker for many age-related diseases. It is expected that with future research, telomere length analysis is expected to enter clinical practice.     

Association between Body Iron Status and Leukocyte Telomere Length,a Biomarker of Biological Aging,in a Nationally Representative Sample of US Adults

Background

Excess iron levels can induce oxidative stress and could therefore affect telomere attrition. However, little is known about the impact of body iron status on telomere length.