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Interplay between telomere length and telomerase in human leukocyte differentiation and aging
Author(s) -
Weng Nanping
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.70.6.861
Subject(s) - telomere , biology , telomerase , cellular aging , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , evolutionary biology , immunology , dna , gene
Blood leukocytes derive from bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells anddifferentiate into multiple types of mature cells that includegranulocytes, monocytes, mast cells of myeloid lineage, and T and Blymphocytes of lymphoid lineage. Their distinctive paths ofdifferentiation and unique roles in immune response provide a model forcomparative analysis of biological parameters, such as telomere lengthand telomerase activity, in different types of leukocytes. Age has alsobeen associated with the decline in immune functions and with theattrition of telomere length in leukocytes. This review will summarizerecent progress in the study of telomere length and telomeraseexpression in leukocytes during differentiation and aging. In addition,I will attempt to shed new light on the roles of telomere andtelomerase in leukocyte function and potential clinicalinterventions.