Abstract.
Increasing generations of the telomerase knockout mouse, Terc–/–, show severe telomere dysfunction characterized by critically short telomeres and end-to-end chromosomal fusions. These mice also suffer from various age-related diseases affecting highly proliferative tissues. Among these pathologies are a reduced proliferative capacity of B and T cells, as well as a reduction of germinal center reactivity upon immunization. Both immune system defects are landmarks of immunosenescence. The study of the telomerase-deficient mouse model supports the notion that telomere shortening with age contributes to immunological dysfunction in the elderly.
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Blasco, M. Immunosenescence phenotypes in the telomerase knockout mouse. Springer Semin Immunopathol 24, 75–85 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00281-001-0096-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00281-001-0096-1