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Telomere shortening and ageing

Telomerverkürzung und Alterung

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Abstract

Telomeres form the ends of human chromosomes. Telomeres shorten with each round of cell division and this mechanism limits proliferation of human cells to a finite number of cell divisions by inducing replicative senescence, differentiation, or apoptosis. Telomere shortening can act as a tumor suppressor. However, as a downside, there is growing evidence indicating that telomere shortening also limits stem cell function, regeneration, and organ maintenance during ageing. Moreover, telomere shortening during ageing and disease is associated with increasing cancer risk. In this review we summarize our current knowledge on the role of telomere shortening in human ageing, chronic diseases, and cancer.

Zusammenfassung

Telomere bilden die Endstücke menschlicher Chromosomen und sind für den Erhalt der Chromosomenstabilität essentiell. Telomere verkürzen sich aber mit jeder Zellteilung, wodurch die proliferative Lebesspanne menschlicher Zellen limitiert wird, da bei einer kritischen Verkürzung der Telomere Seneszenz, Stammzelldifferenzierung oder Apoptose induziert wird. Diese Telomer-abhängige Begrenzung der Lebensspanne menschlicher Zellen wird allgemein als Tumorsuppressormechanismus angesehen. Es gibt aber zunehmend Hinweise, dass die Verkürzung der Telomere auch nachteilige Auswirkungen im Rahmen der Alterung haben kann, da hierdurch die Funktion von Stammzellen und die regenerative Reserve der Organe beschränkt wird. Darüber hinaus ist die Verkürzung der Telomere im Rahmen der menschlichen Alterung und bei chronischen Erkrankungen mit einem erhöhten Tumorrisiko assoziiert. In dieser Übersicht fassen wir unser aktuelles Wissen über die Rolle von Telomeren in der Alterung, bei chronischen Erkrankungen und hinsichtlich der Krebsentstehung zusammen.

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Author notes

  1. H. Jiang

    Present address: Kidney Disease Center, The 1st Affiliated Hospital of Zhe Jiang University, Zhejiang, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute and Max-Planck-Research Group for Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

    Z. Ju & K. L. Rudolph

  2. Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), Beijing, China

    Z. Ju

  3. Max-Planck-Research-Group on Stem Cell Aging and Institute of Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany

    K. L. Rudolph

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  1. H. Jiang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. L. Rudolph.

Additional information

Hong Jiang Formerly: Institute and Max-Planck-Research Group of Molecular Medicine Ulm University Ulm, Germany

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Jiang, H., Ju, Z. & Rudolph, K.L. Telomere shortening and ageing. Z Gerontol Geriat 40, 314–324 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-007-0480-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-007-0480-0

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