Upregulation of telomerase function during tissue regeneration
Upregulation of telomerase function during tissue regeneration
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DOI：
10.3181/0712-rm-345
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发表时间：
2008-08-01
影响因子：
3.2
通讯作者：
Holt, Shawn E.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Elmore, Lynne W.;Norris, Michelle W.;Holt, Shawn E.
端粒酶在人类永生细胞、生殖细胞和肿瘤细胞的端粒维持中起主要作用，但在大多数体细胞和组织中缺乏。然而，许多物种，包括鱼类和近交小鼠，在大多数细胞和组织中表达端粒酶。尽管端粒酶对于长寿的重要性已被提出，但人们对端粒酶在水生物种中的表达知之甚少。我们比较了水生物种广泛组织中的端粒酶活性和端粒长度，发现长寿和短命水生物种中端粒酶的水平显着，表明组成型端粒酶表达具有替代功能。这些水生物种的端粒长度与正常人体组织和细胞株中观察到的端粒长度相当。鉴于许多寿命较短的水生物种都具有端粒酶且具有巨大的再生能力，我们检验了端粒酶上调对于组织再生很重要的假设。在再生过程中，端粒酶活性上调，端粒长度得以维持，最短端粒被拉长，这表明在组织再生过程中维持端粒长度和完整性的重要性。因此，水生动物中端粒酶的表达可能与寿命无关，而是与它们再生受损组织的能力有关。
Telomerase plays a primary role in the maintenance of telomeres in immortal, germ, and tumor cells in humans but is lacking in most somatic cells and tissues. However, many species, including fish and inbred mice, express telomerase in most cells and tissues. Little is known about the expression of telomerase in aquatic species, although the importance of telomerase for longevity has been suggested. We compared telomerase activity and telomere lengths among a broad range of tissues from aquatic species and found telomerase at significant levels in both long- and short-lived aquatic species, suggesting constitutive telomerase expression has an alternative function. Telomere lengths in these aquatic species were comparable to those observed in normal human tissues and cell strains. Given that a host of aquatic species with short life spans have telomerase and a tremendous capacity to regenerate, we tested the hypothesis that telomerase upregulation is important for tissue regeneration. During regeneration, telomerase activity was upregulated and telomere lengths are maintained with the shortest telomeres being elongated, indicating the importance for maintaining telomere length and integrity during tissue regeneration. Thus, the expression of telomerase in aquatic animals is likely not related to longevity but to their ability to regenerate injured tissue.