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.     

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.     

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.     

用分子探针杂交法观测多次献血对造血系统的影响

目的建立非同位素标记的探针杂交测定外周血白细胞端粒DNA长度的方法,借此探讨无偿献血对献血者造血系统的影响。方法酚/氯仿提取基因组DNA,限制性内切酶消化,琼脂糖凝胶电泳,非同位素标记的探针Southern印迹杂交,化学发光X线片曝光显示杂交谱带,积分光密度扫描计算TRF值。结果所测样本获得了较好的低背景杂交谱带,测得35～40岁无偿献血组TRF值平均为11.73kb,相应无献血史对照组平均为11.78kb。结论建立了非同位素标记的探针检测端粒DNA的方法,用上述方法初步显示了固定的长期无偿献血并未对献血者的造血系统产生负面影响。     

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.

Why women may live longer than men do? A telomere-length regulated and diet-based entropic assessment

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Telomere shortening occurs in Asian Indian Type 2 diabetic patients.

AIM: Telomere shortening has been reported in several diseases including atherosclerosis and Type 1 diabetes. Asian Indians have an increased predilection for Type 2 diabetes and premature coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether telomeric shortening occurs in Asian Indian Type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: Using Southern-blot analysis we determined mean terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length, a measure of average telomere size, in leucocyte DNA. Type 2 diabetic patients without any diabetes-related complications (n = 40) and age- and sex-matched control non-diabetic subjects (n = 40) were selected from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES). Plasma level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, was measured by TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) using a fluorescence method. RESULTS: Mean (+/- SE) TRF lengths of the Type 2 diabetic patients (6.01 +/- 0.2 kb) were significantly shorter than those of the control subjects (9.11 +/- 0.6 kb) (P = 0.0001). Among the biochemical parameters, only levels of TBARS showed a negative correlation with shortened telomeres in the diabetic subjects (r = -0.36; P = 0.02). However, telomere lengths were negatively correlated with insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (r = -0.4; P = 0.01) and age (r = -0.3; P = 0.058) and positively correlated with HDL levels (r = 0.4; P = 0.01) in the control subjects. Multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis revealed diabetes to be significantly (P < 0.0001) associated with shortening of TRF lengths. CONCLUSIONS: Telomere shortening occurs in Asian Indian Type 2 diabetic patients.