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Nassour J, Przetocka S, Karlseder J. Telomeres as hotspots for innate immunity and inflammation. DNA Repair (Amst) 2024; 133:103591. [PMID: 37951043 PMCID: PMC10842095 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2023.103591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Aging is marked by the gradual accumulation of deleterious changes that disrupt organ function, creating an altered physiological state that is permissive for the onset of prevalent human diseases. While the exact mechanisms governing aging remain a subject of ongoing research, there are several cellular and molecular hallmarks that contribute to this biological process. This review focuses on two factors, namely telomere dysfunction and inflammation, which have emerged as crucial contributors to the aging process. We aim to discuss the mechanistic connections between these two distinct hallmarks and provide compelling evidence highlighting the loss of telomere protection as a driver of pro-inflammatory states associated with aging. By reevaluating the interplay between telomeres, innate immunity, and inflammation, we present novel perspectives on the etiology of aging and its associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Nassour
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12801 E. 17th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sara Przetocka
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jan Karlseder
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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2
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Gray AN, Avila C, Chung CG, Seminario-Vidal L, Mims A, Dulmage B, Larkin K, Choe H, Jaglowski S, Vasu S, Kaffenberger BH. Cutaneous graft-versus-host disease within chronic photodamaged skin: A case series demonstrating role for topical 5-fluorouracil. JAAD Case Rep 2023; 36:82-88. [PMID: 37250015 PMCID: PMC10220457 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdcr.2023.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Gray
- Department of Dermatology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Christina Avila
- Division of Dermatology, Ohio Health Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Catherine G Chung
- Division of Dermatopathology, Department of Dermatology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Dermatology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Lucia Seminario-Vidal
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Alice Mims
- Division of Hematology, The James Cancer Hospital, and Solove Research Institute, Columbus Ohio
| | - Brittany Dulmage
- Department of Dermatology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Karilyn Larkin
- Division of Hematology, The James Cancer Hospital, and Solove Research Institute, Columbus Ohio
| | - Hannah Choe
- Division of Hematology, The James Cancer Hospital, and Solove Research Institute, Columbus Ohio
| | - Samantha Jaglowski
- Division of Hematology, The James Cancer Hospital, and Solove Research Institute, Columbus Ohio
| | - Sumithira Vasu
- Division of Hematology, The James Cancer Hospital, and Solove Research Institute, Columbus Ohio
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El Maï M, Bird M, Allouche A, Targen S, Şerifoğlu N, Lopes-Bastos B, Guigonis JM, Kang D, Pourcher T, Yue JX, Ferreira MG. Gut-specific telomerase expression counteracts systemic aging in telomerase-deficient zebrafish. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:567-584. [PMID: 37142828 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00401-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Telomere shortening is a hallmark of aging and is counteracted by telomerase. As in humans, the zebrafish gut is one of the organs with the fastest rate of telomere decline, triggering early tissue dysfunction during normal zebrafish aging and in prematurely aged telomerase mutants. However, whether telomere-dependent aging of an individual organ, the gut, causes systemic aging is unknown. Here we show that tissue-specific telomerase expression in the gut can prevent telomere shortening and rescues premature aging of tert-/-. Induction of telomerase rescues gut senescence and low cell proliferation, while restoring tissue integrity, inflammation and age-dependent microbiota dysbiosis. Averting gut aging causes systemic beneficial impacts, rescuing aging of distant organs such as reproductive and hematopoietic systems. Conclusively, we show that gut-specific telomerase expression extends the lifespan of tert-/- by 40%, while ameliorating natural aging. Our work demonstrates that gut-specific rescue of telomerase expression leading to telomere elongation is sufficient to systemically counteract aging in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mounir El Maï
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Malia Bird
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Asma Allouche
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Seniye Targen
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Naz Şerifoğlu
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Bruno Lopes-Bastos
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Jean-Marie Guigonis
- Laboratory Transporter in Imaging and Radiotherapy in Oncology, Institut des Sciences du Vivant Frederic Joliot, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Da Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Thierry Pourcher
- Laboratory Transporter in Imaging and Radiotherapy in Oncology, Institut des Sciences du Vivant Frederic Joliot, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Jia-Xing Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Miguel Godinho Ferreira
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal.
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Telomeres: New players in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases? J Autoimmun 2021; 123:102699. [PMID: 34265700 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences located at the ends of linear chromosomes that preserve the integrity and stability of the genome. Telomere dysfunctions due to short telomeres or altered telomere structures can ultimately lead to replicative cellular senescence and chromosomal instability, both mechanisms being hallmarks of ageing. Chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and finally telomere length (TL) dynamics have been shown to be involved in various age-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), including affections such as inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis and uveitis belong to this group of age-related NCDs. Although in recent years, we have witnessed the emergence of studies in the literature linking these IMIDs to TL dynamics, the causality between these diseases and telomere attrition is still unclear and controversial. In this review, we provide an overview of available studies on telomere dynamics and discuss the utility of TL measurements in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
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Baker KT, Salk JJ, Brentnall TA, Risques RA. Precancer in ulcerative colitis: the role of the field effect and its clinical implications. Carcinogenesis 2018; 39:11-20. [PMID: 29087436 PMCID: PMC6248676 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgx117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cumulative evidence indicates that a significant proportion of cancer evolution may occur before the development of histological abnormalities. While recent improvements in DNA sequencing technology have begun to reveal the presence of these early preneoplastic clones, the concept of 'premalignant field' was already introduced by Slaughter more than half a century ago. Also referred to as 'field effect', 'field defect' or 'field cancerization', these terms describe the phenomenon by which molecular alterations develop in normal-appearing tissue and expand to form premalignant patches with the potential to progress to dysplasia and cancer. Field effects have been well-characterized in ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that increases the risk of colorectal cancer. The study of the molecular alterations that define these fields is informative of mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression and has provided potential targets for early cancer detection. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge about the molecular alterations that comprise the field effect in ulcerative colitis and the clinical utility of these fields for cancer screening and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn T Baker
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jesse J Salk
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- TwinStrand Biosciences Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Teresa A Brentnall
- Division of Gasteroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rosa Ana Risques
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +206-616-4976; Fax:
+206-543-1140;
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Jose SS, Bendickova K, Kepak T, Krenova Z, Fric J. Chronic Inflammation in Immune Aging: Role of Pattern Recognition Receptor Crosstalk with the Telomere Complex? Front Immunol 2017; 8:1078. [PMID: 28928745 PMCID: PMC5591428 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related decline in immunity is characterized by stem cell exhaustion, telomere shortening, and disruption of cell-to-cell communication, leading to increased patient risk of disease. Recent data have demonstrated that chronic inflammation exerts a strong influence on immune aging and is closely correlated with telomere length in a range of major pathologies. The current review discusses the impact of inflammation on immune aging, the likely molecular mediators of this process, and the various disease states that have been linked with immunosenescence. Emerging findings implicate NF-κB, the major driver of inflammatory signaling, in several processes that regulate telomere maintenance and/or telomerase activity. While prolonged triggering of pattern recognition receptors is now known to promote immunosenescence, it remains unclear how this process is linked with the telomere complex or telomerase activity. Indeed, enzymatic control of telomere length has been studied for many decades, but alternative roles of telomerase and potential influences on inflammatory responses are only now beginning to emerge. Crosstalk between these pathways may prove to be a key molecular mechanism of immunosenescence. Understanding how components of immune aging interact and modify host protection against pathogens and tumors will be essential for the design of new vaccines and therapies for a wide range of clinical scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sushama Jose
- Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation Group (CMI), Center for Translational Medicine (CTM), International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Czechia
| | - Kamila Bendickova
- Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation Group (CMI), Center for Translational Medicine (CTM), International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Tomas Kepak
- Pediatric Oncology Translational Research (POTR), International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Zdenka Krenova
- Pediatric Oncology Translational Research (POTR), International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Fric
- Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation Group (CMI), Center for Translational Medicine (CTM), International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
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Oxidative Stress and Carbonyl Lesions in Ulcerative Colitis and Associated Colorectal Cancer. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2015; 2016:9875298. [PMID: 26823956 PMCID: PMC4707327 DOI: 10.1155/2016/9875298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress has long been known as a pathogenic factor of ulcerative colitis (UC) and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC), but the effects of secondary carbonyl lesions receive less emphasis. In inflammatory conditions, reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion free radical (O2 (∙-)), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radical (HO(∙)), are produced at high levels and accumulated to cause oxidative stress (OS). In oxidative status, accumulated ROS can cause protein dysfunction and DNA damage, leading to gene mutations and cell death. Accumulated ROS could also act as chemical messengers to activate signaling pathways, such as NF-κB and p38 MAPK, to affect cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. More importantly, electrophilic carbonyl compounds produced by lipid peroxidation may function as secondary pathogenic factors, causing further protein and membrane lesions. This may in turn exaggerate oxidative stress, forming a vicious cycle. Electrophilic carbonyls could also cause DNA mutations and breaks, driving malignant progression of UC. The secondary lesions caused by carbonyl compounds may be exceptionally important in the case of host carbonyl defensive system deficit, such as aldo-keto reductase 1B10 deficiency. This review article updates the current understanding of oxidative stress and carbonyl lesions in the development and progression of UC and CAC.
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Laish I, Katz H, Stein A, Liberman M, Naftali T, Kitay-Cohen Y, Biron-Shental T, Konikoff FM, Amiel A. Telomere dysfunction in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Dig Liver Dis 2015; 47:790-6. [PMID: 26048252 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Revised: 04/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Primary sclerosing cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease are two associated, chronic inflammatory, pre-malignant conditions. We hypothesized that patients with these disorders may harbour telomere dysfunction as a marker of chromosomal instability. The aim of our study was to compare parameters of the telomere-telomerase system in these cohorts. METHODS In this prospective study, peripheral blood was withdrawn from patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (N=20), inflammatory bowel disease (N=20) and healthy controls (N=20), and lymphocytes were isolated. Telomere length was quantified as a function of the signal intensity and telomere number. Random aneuploidy and telomere capture were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization technique with specific probes. RESULTS Patients with inflammatory bowel disease had higher measures of intestinal disease activity than patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Despite this, shorter telomere length and telomere aggregates, especially the fusion of 2-5 telomeres, were observed at significantly higher rate in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis relative to inflammatory bowel disease or healthy controls. Rates of aneuploidy and telomere capture were higher in the two probes in both diseases compared to controls (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Dysfunction of telomeres was demonstrated in primary sclerosing cholangitis patients more than inflammatory bowel disease and healthy controls patients, which attests to genetic instability and immunosenescence. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02247622.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ido Laish
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Hila Katz
- Genetic Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Assaf Stein
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Meytal Liberman
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Timna Naftali
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Yona Kitay-Cohen
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Tal Biron-Shental
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Fred M Konikoff
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Aliza Amiel
- Genetic Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Yashiro M. Molecular Alterations of Colorectal Cancer with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Dig Dis Sci 2015; 60:2251-63. [PMID: 25840920 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-015-3646-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an important etiologic factor in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The risk of CRC begins to increase 8 or 10 years after the diagnosis of IBD. This type of cancer is called colitis-associated CRC (CA-CRC). The molecular pathogenesis of inflammatory epithelium might play a critical role in the development of CA-CRC. Genetic alterations detected in CA-CRC such as genetic mutations, microsatellite instability, and DNA hypermethylation are also recognized in sporadic CRC; however, there are differences in the timing and frequency of molecular events between CA-CRC and sporadic CRC. Interaction between gene-environmental factors, including inflammation, lifestyle, psychological stress, and prior appendectomy, might be associated with the etiopathology of IBD. The mucosal inflammatory mediators, such as oxidant stress, free radicals, and chemokines, may cause the genetic alterations. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of CA-CRC might be important to develop clinical efficacies for patients with IBD. This review discusses the molecular characteristics of CA-CRC, especially ulcerative colitis-associated CRC, including clinical features, signaling pathways, and interactions between genetic alterations and environment involved in inflammatory carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masakazu Yashiro
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Oncology Institute of Geriatrics and Medical Science, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan,
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Tahara T, Shibata T, Okubo M, Kawamura T, Sumi K, Ishizuka T, Nakamura M, Nagasaka M, Nakagawa Y, Ohmiya N, Arisawa T, Hirata I. Telomere length in non-neoplastic colonic mucosa in ulcerative colitis (UC) and its relationship to the severe clinical phenotypes. Clin Exp Med 2014; 15:327-32. [PMID: 24925640 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-014-0295-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Telomere shortening occurs with human aging in many organs and tissues and is accelerated by rapid cell turnover and oxidative injury. To clarify the clinical importance of telomere shortening in colonic mucosa in ulcerative colitis (UC), we measured average telomere length using quantitative real-time PCR in non-neoplastic colonic mucosa in UC patients and assessed its relationship to various clinical subtypes. Relative telomere length in genomic DNA was measured in colonic biopsies obtained from rectal inflammatory mucosa from 86 UC patients as well as paired non-inflammatory proximal colonic mucosae from 10 patients. Data were correlated with various clinical phenotypes. In paired samples, average relative telomere length of rectal inflammatory mucosa was shortened compared to normal appearing proximal colon in eight out of ten cases (p = 0.01). Telomere length shortening was significantly associated with more severe Mayo endoscopic subscore (p < 0.0001) and cases needing surgery due to toxic megacolon or cancer occurrence (p = 0.043). When the severe clinical phenotype was defined as having at least one of following phenotypes, more than two times of hospitalization, highest Mayo endoscopic subscore, steroid dependent, refractory, or needing operation, average relative telomere length was significantly shortened in the same phenotypes than the others (p = 0.003). Telomere shortening is associated with more severe clinical phenotypes of UC, reflecting severe inflammatory state in the colonic mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomomitsu Tahara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Dengakugakubo Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan,
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Abstract
: Ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory bowel disease, affects many people across the globe, and its prevalence is increasing steadily. Inflammation and oxidative stress play a vital role in the perpetuation of inflammatory process and the subsequent DNA damage associated with the development of UC. UC induces not only local but also systemic damage, which involves the perturbation of multiple molecular pathways. Furthermore, UC leads to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, the third most common malignancy in humans. Most of the drugs used for the treatment of UC are unsatisfactory because they are generally mono-targeted, relatively ineffective and unaffordable for many people. Thus, agents that can target multiple molecular pathways and are less expensive have enormous potential to treat UC. Melatonin has beneficial effects against UC in experimental and clinical studies because of its ability to modulate several molecular pathways of inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and cellular injury. However, many novel targets are yet to be explored on which melatonin may act to exert its favorable effects in UC. It is time to explore improved intervention strategies with melatonin in UC on the basis of studies investigating different molecular targets using proteomic and genomic approaches. This review identifies various molecular targets for melatonin with the intent of providing novel strategies for combating UC and the associated extraintestinal manifestations of this debilitating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopabandhu Jena
- Facility for Risk Assessment and Intervention Studies, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Punjab, India
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Friis-Ottessen M, Bendix L, Kølvraa S, Norheim-Andersen S, De Angelis PM, Clausen OPF. Telomere shortening correlates to dysplasia but not to DNA aneuploidy in longstanding ulcerative colitis. BMC Gastroenterol 2014; 14:8. [PMID: 24405569 PMCID: PMC3893461 DOI: 10.1186/1471-230x-14-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, inflammatory bowel disease which may lead to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in patients when long-lasting. Short telomeres have been reported in mucosal cells of UC patients. Telomeres are repetitive base sequences capping the ends of linear chromosomes, and protect them from erosion and subsequent wrongful recombination and end-to-end joining during cell division. Short telomeres are associated with the development of chromosomal instability and aneuploidy, the latter being risk factors for development of dysplasia and cancer. Specifically, the abrupt shortening of one or more telomeres to a critical length, rather than bulk shortening of telomeres, seems to be associated with chromosomal instability. METHODS We investigated possible associations between dysplasia, aneuploidy and telomere status in a total of eight lesions from each of ten progressors and four nonprogressors suffering from longstanding UC. We have analyzed mean telomere length by qPCR, as well as the amount of ultra-short telomeres by the Universal STELA method. RESULTS An increased amount of ultra-short telomeres, as well as general shortening of mean telomere length are significantly associated with dysplasia in longstanding UC. Furthermore, levels of ultra-short telomeres are also significantly increased in progressors (colons harbouring cancer/dysplasia and/or aneuploidy) compared to nonprogressors (without cancer/dysplasia/aneuploidy), whereas general shortening of telomeres did not show such associations. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that ultra-short telomeres may be more tightly linked to colorectal carcinogenesis through development of dysplasia in UC than general telomere shortening. Telomere status was not seen to associate with DNA aneuploidy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariann Friis-Ottessen
- Department of Pathology, Division of Diagnostics and Intervention, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
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Telomeres in molecular epidemiology studies. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2014; 125:113-31. [PMID: 24993700 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-397898-1.00005-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are long nucleotide repeats and protein complexes at the ends of chromosomes that are essential for maintaining chromosomal stability. They shorten with each cell division, and therefore, telomere length is a marker for cellular aging and senescence. Epidemiological research of telomeres investigates the role that these genetic structures have in disease risk and mortality in human populations. This chapter provides an overview of the current telomere epidemiology research and discusses approaches taken in these investigations. We also highlight important methodological considerations that may affect data interpretation.
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Nelson WG, Demarzo AM, Yegnasubramanian S. The diet as a cause of human prostate cancer. Cancer Treat Res 2014; 159:51-68. [PMID: 24114474 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-38007-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Asymptomatic prostate inflammation and prostate cancer have reached epidemic proportions among men in the developed world. Animal model studies implicate dietary carcinogens, such as the heterocyclic amines from over-cooked meats and sex steroid hormones, particularly estrogens, as candidate etiologies for prostate cancer. Each acts by causing epithelial cell damage, triggering an inflammatory response that can evolve into a chronic or recurrent condition. This milieu appears to spawn proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) lesions, a type of focal atrophy that represents the earliest of prostate cancer precursor lesions. Rare PIA lesions contain cells which exhibit high c-Myc expression, shortened telomere segments, and epigenetic silencing of genes such as GSTP1, encoding the π-class glutathione S-transferase, all characteristic of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and prostate cancer. Subsequent genetic changes, such as the gene translocations/deletions that generate fusion transcripts between androgen-regulated genes (such as TMPRSS2) and genes encoding ETS family transcription factors (such as ERG1), arise in PIN lesions and may promote invasiveness characteristic of prostatic adenocarcinoma cells. Lethal prostate cancers contain markedly corrupted genomes and epigenomes. Epigenetic silencing, which seems to arise in response to the inflamed microenvironment generated by dietary carcinogens and/or estrogens as part of an epigenetic "catastrophe" affecting hundreds of genes, persists to drive clonal evolution through metastatic dissemination. The cause of the initial epigenetic "catastrophe" has not been determined but likely involves defective chromatin structure maintenance by over-exuberant DNA methylation or histone modification. With dietary carcinogens and estrogens driving pro-carcinogenic inflammation in the developed world, it is tempting to speculate that dietary components associated with decreased prostate cancer risk, such as intake of fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes and crucifers, might act to attenuate the ravages of the chronic or recurrent inflammatory processes. Specifically, nutritional agents might prevent PIA lesions or reduce the propensity of PIA lesions to suffer "catastrophic" epigenome corruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- William G Nelson
- Departments of Oncology, Pathology, and Urology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Weinberg Bldg 1100, 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA,
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Accelerated aging during chronic oxidative stress: a role for PARP-1. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2013; 2013:680414. [PMID: 24319532 PMCID: PMC3844163 DOI: 10.1155/2013/680414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory disease and it has also been linked to accelerated telomere shortening. Telomeres are specialized structures at the ends of linear chromosomes that protect these ends from degradation and fusion. Telomeres shorten with each cell division eventually leading to cellular senescence. Research has shown that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and subtelomeric methylation play a role in telomere stability. We hypothesized that PARP-1 plays a role in accelerated aging in chronic inflammatory diseases due to its role as coactivator of NF-κb and AP-1. Therefore we evaluated the effect of chronic PARP-1 inhibition (by fisetin and minocycline) in human fibroblasts (HF) cultured under normal conditions and under conditions of chronic oxidative stress, induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP). Results showed that PARP-1 inhibition under normal culturing conditions accelerated the rate of telomere shortening. However, under conditions of chronic oxidative stress, PARP-1 inhibition did not show accelerated telomere shortening. We also observed a strong correlation between telomere length and subtelomeric methylation status of HF cells. We conclude that chronic PARP-1 inhibition appears to be beneficial in conditions of chronic oxidative stress but may be detrimental under relatively normal conditions.
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Matkowskyj KA, Chen ZE, Rao MS, Yang GY. Dysplastic lesions in inflammatory bowel disease: molecular pathogenesis to morphology. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2013; 137:338-50. [PMID: 23451745 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2012-0086-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Context.-Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a long-standing chronic active inflammatory process in the bowel with increased risk for the development of colorectal carcinoma. Several molecular events involved in chronic active inflammatory processes contribute to multistage progression of human cancer development, including reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, aberrant arachidonic acid metabolites and cytokines/growth factors, and immune dysfunction. These molecular events in IBD lead to genetic abnormality and promote aberrant cell proliferation, which further lead to epithelial changes encompassing a broad spectrum from inflammation-induced hyperplasia to dysplasia. Objective.-To review the (1) epidemiologic and molecular pathogenesis of the risk for colorectal cancer in IBD, (2) morphologic characterization, biomarker(s), and classification of dysplastic lesions, and (3) clinical management of dysplastic lesions arising in IBD. Data Sources.-The different IBD-related dysplastic lesions are illustrated by using morphology in conjunction with molecular pathways, and the "field cancerization" theory and its potential significance are discussed with a review of the literature. Conclusions.-Patients with IBD are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. The risk of developing carcinoma is related to the extent/duration/activity of the patient's disease. There is no consensus regarding the extent of carcinoma risk associated with IBD; however, all would agree that patients with IBD represent a group at significant risk for developing carcinoma and as such, warrant adequate surveillance and prevention. With better screening modalities and detection/characterization of dysplastic lesions, IBD-associated serrated lesions, and "field cancerization," we will improve our understanding of and approach to risk stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina A Matkowskyj
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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Harpaz N, Ward SC, Mescoli C, Itzkowitz SH, Polydorides AD. Precancerous lesions in inflammatory bowel disease. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2013; 27:257-67. [PMID: 23809244 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2013.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Reduction of mortality from colorectal cancer is a prime goal in the clinical management of patients with extensive, longstanding ulcerative colitis and colonic Crohn's disease. The cornerstone of current cancer prevention efforts is endoscopic surveillance for colorectal dysplasia, or intraepithelial neoplasia, the direct histological precursor of cancer. A diagnosis of dysplasia provides a reliable indicator of heightened cancer risk and an end-point for colonoscopic surveillance allowing most patients to undergo prophylactic colectomy before the development of incurable cancer. This article reviews the classification, pathological criteria and clinical implications of colorectal dysplasia, current recommendations for the performance of surveillance colonoscopy, recent technical advances in colonoscopic imaging to enhance the detection of dysplasia, and a summary of the molecular genetic events implicated in its development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Harpaz
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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18
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Cai Z, Yan LJ, Ratka A. Telomere Shortening and Alzheimer’s Disease. Neuromolecular Med 2012; 15:25-48. [DOI: 10.1007/s12017-012-8207-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2012] [Accepted: 11/02/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Tümpel S, Rudolph KL. The role of telomere shortening in somatic stem cells and tissue aging: lessons from telomerase model systems. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2012; 1266:28-39. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06547.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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20
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Zhou X, Meeker AK, Makambi KH, Kosti O, Kallakury BVS, Sidawy MK, Loffredo CA, Zheng YL. Telomere length variation in normal epithelial cells adjacent to tumor: potential biomarker for breast cancer local recurrence. Carcinogenesis 2011; 33:113-8. [PMID: 22072619 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgr248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of the risk of local recurrence (LR) will facilitate therapeutic decision making in the management of early breast cancers. In the present study, we investigated whether telomere length in the normal breast epithelial cells surrounding the tumor is predictive of breast cancer LR; 152 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center were included in this nested case-control study. Cases (patients had LR) and controls (patients had no LR) were matched on year of surgery, age at diagnosis and type of surgery. Telomere fluorescent in situ hybridization was used to determine the telomere length using formalin fixed paraffin-embedded breast tissues. Small telomere length variation (TLV), defined as the coefficient variation of telomere lengths among examined cells, in normal epithelial cells adjacent to the tumor was significantly associated with a 5-fold (95% confidence interval = 1.2-22.2) increased risk of breast cancer LR. When the subjects were categorized into quartiles, a significant inverse dose-response relationship was observed with lowest versus highest quartile odds ratio of 15.3 (P(trend) = 0.012). Patients who had large TLV had significantly better 10 year recurrence free survival rate compared with patients who had small TLV (80 versus 33%). The present study revealed that TLV in normal epithelial cells adjacent to tumor is a strong predictor of breast cancer LR. If confirmed by future studies, TLV in normal epithelial cells adjacent to tumor has the potential to become a promising biomarker for predicting breast cancer LR after breast conserving surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhou
- Carcinogenesis, Biomarkers and Epidemiology Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
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21
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O'Callaghan NJ, Toden S, Bird AR, Topping DL, Fenech M, Conlon MA. Colonocyte telomere shortening is greater with dietary red meat than white meat and is attenuated by resistant starch. Clin Nutr 2011; 31:60-4. [PMID: 21963168 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2011.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2011] [Revised: 08/24/2011] [Accepted: 09/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Population studies indicate that greater red meat consumption increases colorectal cancer risk while dietary fibre is protective. Previous work in rats showed that diets high in protein, including red meat, increase colonocyte DNA strand breaks and that this effect is attenuated by resistant starches (RS). Telomeres are long hexamer repeats that protect against spontaneous DNA damage which would lead to chromosomal instability. Telomere shortening is associated with greater risk of colorectal cancer. The current study aimed to determine the effects of cooked red and white meat intake on colonocyte telomere length in rats and whether dietary RS modified their effects. METHODS After four weeks of feeding cooked beef or chicken at 15, 25 and 35% of diet with or without RS, colonocyte telomere length was measured. RESULTS Telomere length decreased in proportion to red meat content of the diet. A similar trend was observed in the white meat group. Colonocyte telomere shortening due to increased dietary meat was attenuated by the inclusion of RS. CONCLUSION These data support previous findings of increased colonocyte DNA damage with greater red and white meat intake and also the protective effect of dietary fibre.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J O'Callaghan
- Nutritional Genomics and DNA Damage Research Group, CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences, Kintore Avenue, PO Box 10041, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
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22
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Ma H, Zhou Z, Wei S, Liu Z, Pooley KA, Dunning AM, Svenson U, Roos G, Hosgood HD, Shen M, Wei Q. Shortened telomere length is associated with increased risk of cancer: a meta-analysis. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20466. [PMID: 21695195 PMCID: PMC3112149 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomeres play a key role in the maintenance of chromosome integrity and stability, and telomere shortening is involved in initiation and progression of malignancies. A series of epidemiological studies have examined the association between shortened telomeres and risk of cancers, but the findings remain conflicting. METHODS A dataset composed of 11,255 cases and 13,101 controls from 21 publications was included in a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between overall cancer risk or cancer-specific risk and the relative telomere length. Heterogeneity among studies and their publication bias were further assessed by the χ(2)-based Q statistic test and Egger's test, respectively. RESULTS The results showed that shorter telomeres were significantly associated with cancer risk (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.14-1.60), compared with longer telomeres. In the stratified analysis by tumor type, the association remained significant in subgroups of bladder cancer (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.38-2.44), lung cancer (OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.18-4.88), smoking-related cancers (OR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.83-2.78), cancers in the digestive system (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.53-1.87) and the urogenital system (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.12-2.67). Furthermore, the results also indicated that the association between the relative telomere length and overall cancer risk was statistically significant in studies of Caucasian subjects, Asian subjects, retrospective designs, hospital-based controls and smaller sample sizes. Funnel plot and Egger's test suggested that there was no publication bias in the current meta-analysis (P = 0.532). CONCLUSIONS The results of this meta-analysis suggest that the presence of shortened telomeres may be a marker for susceptibility to human cancer, but single larger, well-design prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Ma
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ziyuan Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sheng Wei
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zhensheng Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Karen A. Pooley
- Cancer Research UK Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alison M. Dunning
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ulrika Svenson
- Department of Medical Biosciences/Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Göran Roos
- Department of Medical Biosciences/Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - H. Dean Hosgood
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Min Shen
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Qingyi Wei
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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Cumulative inflammatory load is associated with short leukocyte telomere length in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19687. [PMID: 21602933 PMCID: PMC3094351 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2010] [Accepted: 04/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is an emerging marker of biological age.
Chronic inflammatory activity is commonly proposed as a promoter of
biological aging in general, and of leukocyte telomere shortening in
particular. In addition, senescent cells with critically short telomeres
produce pro-inflammatory factors. However, in spite of the proposed causal
links between inflammatory activity and LTL, there is little clinical
evidence in support of their covariation and interaction. Methodology/Principal Findings To address this issue, we examined if individuals with high levels of the
systemic inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis
factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) had increased odds for
short LTL. Our sample included 1,962 high-functioning adults who
participated in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study (age range:
70–79 years). Logistic regression analyses indicated that individuals
with high levels of either IL-6 or TNF-α had significantly higher odds
for short LTL. Furthermore, individuals with high levels of both IL-6 and
TNF-α had significantly higher odds for short LTL compared with those
who had neither high (OR = 0.52,
CI = 0.37–0.72), only IL-6 high
(OR = 0.57, CI = 0.39–0.83)
or only TNF-α high (OR = 0.67,
CI = 0.46–0.99), adjusting for a wide variety of
established risk factors and potential confounds. In contrast, CRP was not
associated with LTL. Conclusions/Significance Results suggest that cumulative inflammatory load, as indexed by the
combination of high levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, is associated with
increased odds for short LTL. In contrast, high levels of CRP were not
accompanied by short LTL in this cohort of older adults. These data provide
the first large-scale demonstration of links between inflammatory markers
and LTL in an older population.
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24
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O'Callaghan NJ, Fenech M. A quantitative PCR method for measuring absolute telomere length. Biol Proced Online 2011; 13:3. [PMID: 21369534 PMCID: PMC3047434 DOI: 10.1186/1480-9222-13-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 309] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2010] [Accepted: 01/31/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe a simple and reproducible method to measure absolute telomere length (aTL) using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). This method is based on the Cawthon method for relative measurement of telomere length (TL) but modified by introducing an oligomer standard to measure aTL. The method describes the oligomer standards, the generation of the standard curve and the calculations required to calculate aTL from the qPCR data. The necessary controls and performance characteristics of the assay are described in detail and compared relative to other methods for measuring TL. Typical results for this assay for a variety of human tissue samples are provided as well as a troubleshooting schedule. This method allows high throughput measurement of aTL using small amounts of DNA making it amenable for molecular epidemiological studies. Compared to the traditional relative TL qPCR assays, the aTL method described in this protocol enables a more direct comparison of results between experiments within and between laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J O'Callaghan
- CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences, Nutritional Genomics Laboratory, PO Box 10041, Adelaide BC, SA, 5000, Australia
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25
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Sloand EM, Pfannes L, Ling C, Feng X, Jasek M, Calado R, Tucker ZCG, Hematti P, Maciejewski J, Dunbar C, Barrett J, Young N. Graft-versus-host disease: role of inflammation in the development of chromosomal abnormalities of keratinocytes. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2010; 16:1665-73. [PMID: 20659573 PMCID: PMC3437935 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2010.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2010] [Accepted: 07/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major risk factor for secondary malignancy after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin and mucous membranes are especially frequent in this setting where aneuploidy and tetraploidy are associated with aggressive disease. The current study is directed at the mechanism of neoplasia in this setting. Unmanipulated keratinocytes from areas of oral GVHD in 9 patients showed tetraploidy in 10% to 46% of cells when examined by florescein in situ hybridization (FISH). Keratinocytes isolated from biopsy sites of GVHD but not from normal tissue showed even greater numbers of tetraploid cells (mean = 78%, range: 15%-85%; N = 9) after culture. To mimic the inflammatory process in GVHD, allogeneic HLA-mismatched lymphocytes were mixed with normal keratinocytes. After 2 weeks, substantial numbers of aneuploid and tetraploid cells were evident in cultures with lymphocytes and with purified CD8 but not CD4 cells. Telomere length was substantially decreased in the lymphocyte-treated sample. No mutations were present in the p53 gene, although haploinsufficiency for p53 due to the loss of chromosome 17 was common in cells exposed to lymphocytes. These findings suggest that in GVHD, inflammation and repeated cell division correlate with the development of karyotypic abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine M Sloand
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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26
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Findeisen HM, Gizard F, Zhao Y, Cohn D, Heywood EB, Jones KL, Lovett DH, Howatt DA, Daugherty A, Bruemmer D. Telomerase deficiency in bone marrow-derived cells attenuates angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm formation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2010; 31:253-60. [PMID: 21088250 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.110.218545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are an age-related vascular disease and an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we sought to determine whether the catalytic component of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), modulates angiotensin (Ang) II-induced AAA formation. METHODS AND RESULTS Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLr-/-) mice were lethally irradiated and reconstituted with bone marrow-derived cells from TERT-deficient (TERT-/-) mice or littermate wild-type mice. Mice were placed on a diet enriched in cholesterol, and AAA formation was quantified after 4 weeks of Ang II infusion. Repopulation of LDLr-/- mice with TERT-/- bone marrow-derived cells attenuated Ang II-induced AAA formation. TERT-deficient recipient mice revealed modest telomere attrition in circulating leukocytes at the study end point without any overt effect of the donor genotype on white blood cell counts. In mice repopulated with TERT-/- bone marrow, aortic matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity was reduced, and TERT-/- macrophages exhibited decreased expression and activity of MMP-2 in response to stimulation with Ang II. Finally, we demonstrated in transient transfection studies that TERT overexpression activates the MMP-2 promoter in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS TERT deficiency in bone marrow-derived macrophages attenuates Ang II-induced AAA formation in LDLr-/- mice and decreases MMP-2 expression. These results point to a previously unrecognized role of TERT in the pathogenesis of AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes M Findeisen
- Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Kentucky, 900 S Limestone St., Lexington, KY 40536-0200, USA
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27
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Houben JMJ, Giltay EJ, Rius-Ottenheim N, Hageman GJ, Kromhout D. Telomere length and mortality in elderly men: the Zutphen Elderly Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2010; 66:38-44. [PMID: 20889650 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glq164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere shortening is a marker of aging and therefore telomere length might be related to disease progression and survival. To address these questions, we measured leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in male participants from the Zutphen Elderly Study. LTL was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 203 men: mean aged 78 years in 1993 and 75 surviving participants mean aged 83 years in 2000. During 7 years of follow-up, 105 men died. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios for all-cause and cause-specific mortality. We found that LTL declined with a mean of 40.2 bp/year, and LTL values measured in 1993 and 2000 correlated significantly (r = .51, p < .001). Longer telomeres at baseline were not predictive for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, or cancer mortality. These results suggest that LTL decreases with increasing age and that LTL is not related to mortality in men aged more than 70 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce M J Houben
- Department of Health Risk Analysis and Toxicology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
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28
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Harpaz N, Polydorides AD. Colorectal dysplasia in chronic inflammatory bowel disease: pathology, clinical implications, and pathogenesis. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2010; 134:876-95. [PMID: 20524866 DOI: 10.5858/134.6.876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Colorectal cancer, the most lethal long-term complication of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is the culmination of a complex sequence of molecular and histologic derangements of the intestinal epithelium that are initiated and at least partially sustained by chronic inflammation. Dysplasia, the earliest histologic manifestation of this process, plays an important role in cancer prevention by providing the first clinical alert that this sequence is underway and serving as an endpoint in colonoscopic surveillance of patients at high risk for colorectal cancer. OBJECTIVE To review the histology, nomenclature, clinical implications, and molecular pathogenesis of dysplasia in IBD. DATA SOURCE Literature review and illustrations from case material. CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis and grading of dysplasia in endoscopic surveillance biopsies play a decisive role in the management of patients with IBD. Although interpathologist variation, endoscopic sampling problems, and incomplete information regarding the natural history of dysplastic lesions are important limiting factors, indirect evidence that surveillance may be an effective means of reducing cancer-related mortality in the population with IBD has helped validate the histologic criteria, nomenclature, and clinical recommendations that are the basis of current practice among pathologists and clinicians. Emerging technologic advances in endoscopy may permit more effective surveillance, but ultimately the greatest promise for cancer prevention in IBD lies in expanding our thus far limited understanding of the molecular pathogenetic relationships between neoplasia and chronic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Harpaz
- Department of Pathology, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10092, USA.
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29
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von Figura G, Hartmann D, Song Z, Rudolph KL. Role of telomere dysfunction in aging and its detection by biomarkers. J Mol Med (Berl) 2009; 87:1165-71. [PMID: 19669107 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-009-0509-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2009] [Revised: 07/07/2009] [Accepted: 07/17/2009] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a complex process that has been shown to be linked to accumulation of DNA damage. Telomere shortening represents a cell-intrinsic mechanism leading to DNA damage accumulation and activation of DNA damage checkpoints in aging cells. Activation of DNA damage checkpoints in response to telomere dysfunction results in induction of cellular senescence-a permanent cell cycle arrest. Senescence represents a tumor suppressor mechanism protecting cells from evolution of genomic instability and transformation. As a drawback, telomere shortening may also limit tissue renewal and regenerative capacity of tissues in response to aging and chronic disease. In aged organs, telomere shortening may also increase the cancer risk by initiation of chromosomal instability, loss of proliferative competition of aging stem cells, and selection of aberrant growing clones. Consequently, aged individuals are more susceptible and vulnerable to various diseases and show an increased cancer risk. Recently, proteins were discovered, which are induced by telomere dysfunction and DNA damage. It was shown that these proteins represent new biomarkers of human aging and disease. Here, we review the scientific background and experimental data on these newly discovered biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido von Figura
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Max-Planck-Research Group on Stem Cell Aging, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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30
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Zheng YL, Ambrosone C, Byrne C, Davis W, Nesline M, McCann SE. Telomere length in blood cells and breast cancer risk: investigations in two case-control studies. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2009; 120:769-75. [PMID: 19543829 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-009-0440-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2009] [Accepted: 06/04/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Telomere dysfunction, which leads to genomic instability, is hypothesized to play a causal role in the development of breast cancer. However, the few epidemiologic studies that assessed the relationship between telomere length in blood cells and breast cancer risk have been inconsistent. We conducted two case-control studies to further understand the role of telomere length and breast cancer risk. Overall telomere lengths were measured by telomere quantitative fluorescent in situ hybridization (TQ-FISH) and telomere quantitative real-time PCR (TQ-PCR). The associations between telomere length in blood leukocytes and risk of breast cancer were examined in two breast cancer case-control studies that were conducted at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) and Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC). Using the 50th percentile value in controls as a cut point, women who had shorter telomere length were not at significantly increased risk of breast cancer compared with women who had longer telomere length in the RPCI study (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.84-2.12), in the LCCC study (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.73-1.91), or in the combined RPCI and LCCC studies (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.89-1.71). There was no significant dose-response relationship across quartiles of telomere length and no significant difference when comparing women in the lowest to highest quartile of telomere length. Overall telomere length in blood leukocytes was not significantly associated with the risk of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ling Zheng
- Cancer Genetics and Epidemiology Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
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31
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Yang GY, Taboada S, Liao J. Inflammatory bowel disease: a model of chronic inflammation-induced cancer. Methods Mol Biol 2009; 511:193-233. [PMID: 19347299 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-447-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Chronic inflammation is a well-recognized risk factor for the development of human cancer. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is a typical longstanding inflammatory disease of the colon with increased risk for the development of colorectal carcinoma. Several molecular events involved in chronic inflammatory process may contribute to multistage progression of human cancer development, including the overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, overproduction/activation of key arachidonic acid metabolites and cytokines/growth factors, and immunity system dysfunction. Multiple animal models of IBD have been established, and in general, these models can be mainly categorized into chemically induced, genetically engineered (transgenic or gene knock-out), spontaneous, and adoptive transferring animal models. This chapter mainly focuses on (1) epidemiologic and molecular evidence on IBD and risk of colorectal cancer, (2) molecular pathogenesis of IBD-induced carcinogenesis, and (3) modeling of IBD-induced carcinogenesis in rodents and its application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Yu Yang
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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Bronner MP, O'Sullivan JN, Rabinovitch PS, Crispin DA, Chen L, Emond MJ, Rubin CE, Brentnall TA. Genomic biomarkers to improve ulcerative colitis neoplasia surveillance. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2008; 173:1853-60. [PMID: 18988798 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.080250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
No adequate means exist to identify the minority of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients destined to undergo neoplastic progression. Recognition of this subset would advance UC cancer surveillance by focusing the available management options onto the highest risk patients. Three different assays of genomic alterations in nondysplastic UC biopsies show promise for distinguishing patients with neoplasia (UC progressors) from those without (UC nonprogressors), including assays of telomere length, anaphase bridges, and chromosomal fluorescence in situ hybridization. Expanding the number of patients and testing of assays simultaneously in the same biopsy further validated their utility. A panel approach also improved testing outcome. A total of 14 UC progressors was readily separable from 15 UC nonprogressors and 6 normal controls. Chromosomal entropy (ie, the extent of alteration diversity) proved to be the most useful test. By receiver-operating characteristic analysis, mean chromosomal entropy in 28 patients over all four chromosomes yielded 100% sensitivity and 92% specificity for distinguishing progressors from nonprogressors with optimum choice of threshold. Moreover, separation was achieved using only nondysplastic and predominantly rectal (82.8%) biopsies that were remote from neoplasia, suggesting that full colonoscopy with extensive biopsies might be avoided for the majority of UC patients, the nonprogressors. These data further strengthen the concept that genomic biomarkers can distinguish UC progressors from nonprogressors and improve cancer surveillance in UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary P Bronner
- The Cleveland Clinic, Department of Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
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Kejariwal D, Stepien KM, Smith T, Kennedy H, Hughes DA, Sampson MJ. Lack of association of colonic epithelium telomere length and oxidative DNA damage in Type 2 diabetes under good metabolic control. BMC Endocr Disord 2008; 8:12. [PMID: 18847490 PMCID: PMC2572056 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6823-8-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2008] [Accepted: 10/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomeres are DNA repeat sequences necessary for DNA replication which shorten at cell division at a rate directly related to levels of oxidative stress. Critical telomere shortening predisposes to cell senescence and to epithelial malignancies. Type 2 diabetes is characterised by increased oxidative DNA damage, telomere attrition, and an increased risk of colonic malignancy. We hypothesised that the colonic mucosa in Type 2 diabetes would be characterised by increased DNA damage and telomere shortening. METHODS We examined telomere length (by flow fluorescent in situ hybridization) and oxidative DNA damage (flow cytometry of 8 - oxoguanosine) in the colonic mucosal cells of subjects with type 2 diabetes (n = 10; mean age 62.2 years, mean HbA1c 6.9%) and 22 matched control subjects. No colonic pathology was apparent in these subjects at routine gastrointestinal investigations. RESULTS Mean colonic epithelial telomere length in the diabetes group was not significantly different from controls (10.6 [3.6] vs. 12.1 [3.4] Molecular Equivalent of Soluble Fluorochrome Units [MESF]; P = 0.5). Levels of oxidative DNA damage were similar in both T2DM and control groups (2.6 [0.6] vs. 2.5 [0.6] Mean Fluorescent Intensity [MFI]; P = 0.7). There was no significant relationship between oxidative DNA damage and telomere length in either group (both p > 0.1). CONCLUSION Colonic epithelium in Type 2 diabetes does not differ significantly from control colonic epithelium in oxidative DNA damage or telomere length. There is no evidence in this study for increased oxidative DNA damage or significant telomere attrition in colonic mucosa as a carcinogenic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Kejariwal
- Department of Gastroenterology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK
| | - Karolina M Stepien
- Elsie Bertram Diabetes Centre, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK
| | - Tracy Smith
- Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK
| | - Hugh Kennedy
- Department of Gastroenterology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK
| | - David A Hughes
- Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK
| | - Mike J Sampson
- Elsie Bertram Diabetes Centre, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK
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Derradji H, Bekaert S, De Meyer T, Jacquet P, Abou-El-Ardat K, Ghardi M, Arlette M, Baatout S. Ionizing radiation-induced gene modulations, cytokine content changes and telomere shortening in mouse fetuses exhibiting forelimb defects. Dev Biol 2008; 322:302-13. [PMID: 18722365 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2007] [Revised: 07/03/2008] [Accepted: 07/25/2008] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence have linked limb teratogenesis to radiation-induced apoptosis and to the p53 status in murine fetuses. In previous reports, we studied the occurrence of various malformations after intrauterine irradiation and showed that these malformations were modulated by p53-deficiency as well as by the developmental stage at which embryos were irradiated. In this new study, we focused onto one particular phenotype namely forelimb defects to further unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this malformation. We measured various parameters expected to be directly or indirectly influenced by irradiation damage. The mouse fetuses were irradiated at day 12 p.c. (post conception) and examined for forelimb defects on gestational days 15, 16, 17 and 19 of development. The release of inflammatory cytokines was determined in the amniotic fluid on day 16 p.c. and the mean telomere lengths assessed at days 12, 13 and 19 p.c. Differential gene expression within the forelimb bud tissues was determined using Real Time quantitative PCR (RTqPCR) 24 h following irradiation. Apoptosis was investigated in the normal and malformed fetuses using the TUNEL assay and RTqPCR. First, we found that irradiated fetuses with forelimb defects displayed excessive apoptosis in the predigital regions. Besides, overexpression of the pro-apoptotic Bax gene indicates a mitochondrial-mediated cell death. Secondly, our results showed overexpression of MKK3 and MKK7 (members of the stress-activated MAP kinase family) within the malformed fetuses. The latter could be involved in radiation-induced apoptosis through activation of the p38 and JNK pathways. Thirdly, we found that irradiated fetuses exhibiting forelimb defects showed a marked telomere shortening. Interestingly, telomere shortening was observed as the malformations became apparent. Fourthly, we measured cytokine levels in the amniotic fluid and detected a considerable inflammatory reaction among the irradiated fetuses as evidenced by the increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Altogether, our data suggest that transcriptional modulations of apoptotic, inflammation, stress, and DNA damage players are early events in radiation-induced forelimb defects. These changes resulted in harsh developmental conditions as indicated by a marked increase in cytokine levels in the amniotic fluid and telomere shortening, two features concomitant with the onset of the forelimb defect phenotype in our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanane Derradji
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Biology Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCKCEN, Mol, Belgium.
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Risques RA, Lai LA, Brentnall TA, Li L, Feng Z, Gallaher J, Mandelson MT, Potter JD, Bronner MP, Rabinovitch PS. Ulcerative colitis is a disease of accelerated colon aging: evidence from telomere attrition and DNA damage. Gastroenterology 2008; 135:410-8. [PMID: 18519043 PMCID: PMC2574910 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2008.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2007] [Revised: 03/24/2008] [Accepted: 04/10/2008] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Telomere shortening is implicated in cancer and aging and might link these 2 biologic events. We explored this hypothesis in ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory disease that predisposes to colorectal cancer and in which shorter telomeres have been associated with chromosomal instability and tumor progression. METHODS Telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in colonocytes and leukocytes of 2 different sets of UC patients and compared with normal controls across a wide range of ages. For a subset of patients, telomere length was measured in epithelium and stroma of right and left colon biopsy specimens. A third set of biopsy specimens was analyzed for phosphorylation of histone H2AX (gammaH2AX), a DNA damage signal, by immunofluorescence and for telomere length by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization. Relationships between telomere length, gammaH2AX intensity, age, disease duration, and age of disease onset were explored. RESULTS Colonocyte telomeres shorten with age almost twice as rapidly in UC patients as in normal controls. This extensive shortening occurs within approximately 8 years of disease duration. Leukocyte telomeres are slightly shorter in UC patients than in controls, but telomeres of colon stromal cells are unaffected. gammaH2AX intensity is higher in colonocytes of UC patients than in controls and is not dependent on age or telomere length. CONCLUSIONS Colonocytes of UC patients show premature shortening of telomeres, which might explain the increased and earlier risk of cancer in this disease. Shorter leukocyte telomeres and increased gammaH2AX in colonocytes might reflect oxidative damage secondary to inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa A. Lai
- Department of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Teresa A. Brentnall
- Department of Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Lin Li
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Ziding Feng
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Margaret T. Mandelson
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA,Center for Health Studies, Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, WA
| | - John D. Potter
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Mary P. Bronner
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Peter S. Rabinovitch
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA,Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
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Houben JMJ, Moonen HJJ, van Schooten FJ, Hageman GJ. Telomere length assessment: biomarker of chronic oxidative stress? Free Radic Biol Med 2008; 44:235-46. [PMID: 18021748 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2007.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 371] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2007] [Revised: 08/15/2007] [Accepted: 10/01/2007] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures, located at the ends of chromosomes and are subject to shortening at each cycle of cell division. They prevent chromosomal ends from being recognized as double strand breaks and protect them from end to end fusion and degradation. Telomeres consist of stretches of repetitive DNA with a high G-C content and are reported to be highly sensitive to damage induced by oxidative stress. The resulting DNA strand breaks can be formed either directly or as an intermediate step during the repair of oxidative bases. In contrast to the majority of genomic DNA, there is evidence that telomeric DNA is deficient in the repair of single strand breaks. Since chronic oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathophysiology of several chronic inflammatory diseases, it is hypothesized that telomere length is reducing at a faster rate during oxidative stress. Therefore, assessment of telomere length might be a useful biomarker of disease progression. In this review several features of telomere length regulation, their relation with oxidative stress, and the potential application of measurement of telomere length as biomarker of chronic oxidative stress, will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce M J Houben
- Department of Health Risk Analysis and Toxicology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
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Shen J, Terry MB, Gurvich I, Liao Y, Senie RT, Santella RM. Short telomere length and breast cancer risk: a study in sister sets. Cancer Res 2007; 67:5538-44. [PMID: 17545637 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-3490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres consist of a tandem repeats of the sequence TTAGGG at the ends of chromosomes and play a key role in the maintenance of chromosomal stability. Previous studies indicated that short telomeres are associated with increased risk for human bladder, head and neck, lung, and renal cell cancer. We investigated the association between white blood cell telomere length and breast cancer risk among 268 family sets (287 breast cancer cases and 350 sister controls). Telomere length was assessed by quantitative PCR. The mean telomere length was shorter in cases (mean, 0.70; range, 0.03-1.95) than in unaffected control sisters (mean, 0.74; range, 0.03-2.29), but no significant difference was observed (P = 0.11). When subjects were categorized according to the median telomere length in controls (0.70), affected sisters had shorter telomeres compared with unaffected sisters after adjusting for age at blood donation and smoking status [odds ratio (OR), 1.3; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.9-1.8], but the association was not statistically significant. The association by quartile of telomere length (Q4 shortest versus Q1 longest) also supported an increase in risk from shorter telomere length, although the association was not statistically significant (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9-2.7). This association was more pronounced among premenopausal women (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 0.8-5.5) than postmenopausal women (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.5-3.6 for Q4 versus Q1). If these associations are replicated in larger studies, they provide modest epidemiologic evidence that shortened telomere length may be associated with breast cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Shen
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
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Risques RA, Rabinovitch PS, Brentnall TA. Cancer surveillance in inflammatory bowel disease: new molecular approaches. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2006; 22:382-90. [PMID: 16760754 DOI: 10.1097/01.mog.0000231812.95525.a7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, have an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Life-long colonoscopy surveillance is performed to detect the presence of dysplasia, but this approach is expensive and time-consuming. Thus, there is intensive research to identify molecular factors with prognostic value. This review summarizes recent research, with a special emphasis on the mechanisms underlying these molecular alterations. RECENT FINDINGS The role of chromosomal instability in the progression to inflammatory bowel disease-associated colorectal cancer is clear and likely relates to chronic cycles of injury, inflammation, repair and telomere shortening. The role of microsatellite instability has been a subject of discussion, and data suggest that microsatellite instability in inflammatory bowel disease might be different from microsatellite instability in sporadic colorectal cancer. Methylation, as a mechanism of gene silencing, also plays a role in ulcerative colitis tumorigenesis. Chronic inflammation has been linked to p53 activation and oxidative stress, contributing to the extensive genomic DNA damage observed in ulcerative colitis. SUMMARY Improved understanding of the molecular biology of cancer progression in inflammatory bowel disease will hopefully lead to the identification of useful prognostic biomarkers. Efforts are needed to prove the clinical utility of the most promising markers now identified.
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Getliffe KM, Martin Ruiz C, Passos JF, von Zglinicki T, Nwokolo CU. Extended lifespan and long telomeres in rectal fibroblasts from late-onset ulcerative colitis patients. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 18:133-41. [PMID: 16394794 DOI: 10.1097/00042737-200602000-00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by damage to the intestinal epithelium and connective tissue. The causes of this damage could include changes in the ability of colonic fibroblasts to heal wounds and maintain epithelial cell proliferation. Telomeres shorten with each cell division and eventually signal senescence. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the impaired function of rectal fibroblasts in UC is due to accelerated telomere shortening, oxidative stress and premature senescence. METHODS We isolated rectal fibroblasts from eight UC patients and nine non-colitis controls, and recorded their in-vitro lifespans. Telomere lengths and superoxide dismutase mRNA expression were also measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and peroxide levels were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS The fibroblast lifespan decreased as patient age increased (R2=0.68, P=0.003) in control patients, but this relationship was absent in UC fibroblasts. We identified a group of patients who were diagnosed later in life than a second group (59 versus 35 years, P=0.002). Fibroblasts from these late-onset UC patients underwent significantly more population doublings before senescence than age-matched controls (25 versus 15, P=0.02). Slower in-vitro telomere shortening rates (32 versus 344, P=0.006) and trends towards longer telomeres at explant were also observed in late-onset UC fibroblasts. Peroxide levels correlated positively with telomere shortening rate (r=0.581, P=0.078). CONCLUSIONS Some UC-predisposed individuals may have more efficient antioxidant systems that protect the telomeres from oxidative damage. This may allow their rectal fibroblasts to live longer, function better and thus delay the onset of the disease until later life.
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Vijh AK. Observations on the proposed relationship between infection burden and early malignancy in developing countries (e.g., India). Med Hypotheses 2004; 62:233-6. [PMID: 14962633 DOI: 10.1016/s0306-9877(03)00339-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2003] [Accepted: 11/10/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Sastry and Parikh [Med. Hypotheses 60(4) (2003) 573] have recently sought an explanation for the fact that the occurrence of a particular cancer in populations in a developing country such as India takes place at a younger age (about one decade) than in populations in Western countries. They have hypothesized that a higher infectious burden in India gives rise to repeated cell divisions leading to early senescence of immune cells, and, thence their reduced ability for immune surveillance against cancer, resulting in earlier onset of cancer. The analysis presented here points out to some difficulties with this interpretation, both on empirical and theoretical grounds. The reduced surveillance ability, caused by higher infectious burden, of the immune cells postulated by Sastry and Parikh [loc. cit.] would also mean that populations in India should suffer higher incidence of cancer, as compared to people in Western countries; the empirical data show that, in fact, quite the opposite is true - in the present communication shows that for many common cancers, typical cities in India show the lowest incidence. Theoretically, it is postulated here that repeated heavy infections in India, in fact, challenge the immune system, particularly the adaptive immune system and create an immunological memory: this trains and strengthens the immune system against the future battles. Also it is shown that the shortening of the telomeric cap by repeated cell divisions caused by heavy infectious attacks, as argued by Sastry and Parikh [loc. cit.], is not the cause of earlier onset of cancers among Indians; in fact, when telomeric caps become shortened to a critical point, a danger signal is generated arresting the cell cycle - thus, it provides a fundamental mechanism for ordering the cell to cease proliferation. It is suggested that the root of occurrence of cancers at an earlier age in India perhaps lies in the accumulation of mutations at an earlier age among Indians who do develop cancers; the factors responsible for these accelerated mutations are not clear at the present time and need further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok K Vijh
- Institut de Recherche d'Hydro-Québec, 1800 Blvd. Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, Que., Canada J3X 1S1.
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Satyanarayana A, Wiemann SU, Buer J, Lauber J, Dittmar KEJ, Wüstefeld T, Blasco MA, Manns MP, Rudolph KL. Telomere shortening impairs organ regeneration by inhibiting cell cycle re-entry of a subpopulation of cells. EMBO J 2003; 22:4003-13. [PMID: 12881434 PMCID: PMC169040 DOI: 10.1093/emboj/cdg367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2002] [Revised: 05/21/2003] [Accepted: 06/02/2003] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere shortening limits the regenerative capacity of primary cells in vitro by inducing cellular senescence characterized by a permanent growth arrest of cells with critically short telomeres. To test whether this in vitro model of cellular senescence applies to impaired organ regeneration induced by telomere shortening in vivo, we monitored liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in telomerase-deficient mice. Our study shows that telomere shortening is heterogeneous at the cellular level and inhibits a subpopulation of cells with critically short telomeres from entering the cell cycle. This subpopulation of cells with impaired proliferative capacity shows senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, while organ regeneration is accomplished by cells with sufficient telomere reserves that are capable of additional rounds of cell division. This study provides experimental evidence for the existence of an in vivo process of cellular senescence induced by critical telomere shortening that has functional impact on organ regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Satyanarayana
- Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
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Abstract
Tumour growth is an evolutionary process that is characterized by the selection of clonal populations of cells that acquire distinct genetic changes. Many cancer therapies aim to exploit the specific changes that occur in cancer cells, but understanding the underlying mechanisms of genomic instability that cause these mutations could lead to more effective therapies. If common mechanisms exist for initiating genomic instability in tumours, selection could explain the differences in specific gene mutations that accumulate in different tumour types. The cause of genomic instability in human tumours is unclear, although there is evidence to indicate that telomere dysfunction could make an important contribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Feldser
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 617 Hunterian Building, 725 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
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Sastry PSRK, Parikh P. The earlier age of onset of malignancy in developing world is related to overall infection burden and could be due to the effect on telomere length. Med Hypotheses 2003; 60:573-4. [PMID: 12615525 DOI: 10.1016/s0306-9877(03)00030-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
It is a common observation that many common cancers occur at a younger age in developing countries, like India. The cancer registry data provide incidence rate of different cancers, which suggest the same. Telomere shortening is involved in ageing of cells. Inflammation and infection result in telomere shortening in immune cells. The higher infection burden in developing countries might mean an earlier ageing of immune cells, resulting in decreased efficiency of immune surveillance and thus predisposing to cancer at an earlier age than seen in developed countries with lesser infection burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- P S R K Sastry
- Consultant Medical Oncologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Physician, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, India.
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Kang MK, Swee J, Kim RH, Baluda MA, Park NH. The telomeric length and heterogeneity decrease with age in normal human oral keratinocytes. Mech Ageing Dev 2002; 123:585-92. [PMID: 11850022 DOI: 10.1016/s0047-6374(01)00407-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
We have examined the telomere length in NHOK explanted from 28 donors between the ages of 21 and 84 years. Genomic DNA was isolated from exponentially replicating NHOK and digested with HinFI to yield terminal restriction fragments (TRF). The TRF length ranged from 4.1 to 7.0 kbp with a mean of 5.3 +/- 0.8 kbp, which was significantly shorter than that (8.9 +/- 1.0 kbp) of normal human oral fibroblasts (NHOF). The TRF length was inversely correlated to the increase of donor age in NHOK (m=-23 bp per year; r=-0.60; P<0.001). Also, the heterogeneity of TRF length in cultured NHOK decreased with increased donor age (r=-0.38, P<0.05). These data indicated that clonogenic NHOK cells had replicated in situ and showed a progressive shortening of TRF length. The short telomere length and decreased telomeric length heterogeneity in immortalized cells suggested that there is a critical minimum for cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo K Kang
- Dental Research Institute, University of California, 73-017 CHS, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE GI epithelial cells express telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein that prevents telomeric shortening in proliferating cells. Telomerase levels are high in cancer, but little is known about telomerase expression in other diseases. We, therefore, designed experiments to determine telomerase expression in different colonic segments and to compare this with corresponding segments in patients with ulcerative colitis. Colorectal cancers and adenomatous polyps were included as disease controls. METHODS In total, telomerase expression was determined in colonic tissues obtained from 62 patients. Twenty-five patients had ulcerative colitis, 21 had normal colons, 11 had colorectal cancer, and nine had adenomatous polyps. Endoscopic biopsies were collected prospectively at colonoscopy, processed for telomerase assays (Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol), hematoxylin and eosin staining, and scored for inflammation. RESULTS Telomerase activity is expressed in arbitrary units (median 95% confidence interval). In the normal colon, telomerase activity in the cecum, transverse, sigmoid, and rectum was 255 (171-449), 707 (374-895), 561 (468-1426), and 563 (402-846), respectively. Telomerase was higher in the distal three segments when compared with the cecum (p = 0.005). In ulcerative colitis, there was a marked decrease in telomerase activity in the cecum 152 (59-272), p = 0.04, transverse 180 (129-365), p < 0.001, sigmoid 352 (114-464), p = 0.005, and rectum 180 (70-337), p = 0.001 when compared with normals. Telomerase activity correlated negatively with inflammation (r = -0.32, p = 0.001) and was also decreased in microscopically normal areas. Cancers expressed high levels of telomerase. CONCLUSIONS Colonic mucosal expression of telomerase is reduced in ulcerative colitis. Levels are low even in microscopically normal mucosa, suggesting that telomerase deficiency may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Usselmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, United Kingdom
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Takaku H, Ajioka Y, Watanabe H, Hashidate H, Yamada S, Yokoyama J, Kazama S, Suda T, Hatakeyama K. Mutations of p53 in morphologically non-neoplastic mucosa of long-standing ulcerative colitis. Jpn J Cancer Res 2001; 92:119-26. [PMID: 11223540 PMCID: PMC5926702 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2001.tb01073.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Two cases of ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated carcinoma or dysplasia and morphologically non-neoplastic mucosa with p53 protein overexpression (MNNM-p53OE) were selected. DNA was extracted from the paraffin blocks of these lesions and exons 5 - 8 of the p53 gene were analyzed by PCR and direct sequencing. In addition, mutations in K-ras codon 12 were analyzed by PCR-RFLP methods. MNNM-p53OE was located surrounding and adjoining a coexisting carcinoma and / or dysplasia. A p53 mutation was detected in 12 / 22 (54.5%) MNNM-p53OE samples, 4 / 8 (50%) dysplasia samples and 8 / 8 (100%) carcinoma samples. The p53 mutations detected in MNNM-p53OE were identical to those demonstrated in the adjoining carcinoma and / or dysplasia. No K-ras codon 12 mutation was detected in any of the samples. These results indicate that MNNM-p53OE may share an identical clonal linkage with a coexisting carcinoma and / or dysplasia, and may be an initial and submorphological form of UC-associated neoplasia. Recognition of MNNM-p53OE in biopsy specimens may help to identify patients with UC at risk of developing colorectal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Takaku
- First Department of Pathology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata 951-8510, Japan.
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Melk A, Ramassar V, Helms LMH, Moore R, Rayner D, Solez K, Halloran PF. Telomere shortening in kidneys with age. J Am Soc Nephrol 2000; 11:444-453. [PMID: 10703668 DOI: 10.1681/asn.v113444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The histology and function of the kidney deteriorates with age and age-related diseases, but the mechanisms involved in renal aging are not known. In vitro studies suggest that telomere shortening is important in replicative senescence, and is accelerated by stresses that increase replication. This study explored the relationship between age and telomere length in surgical samples from 24 human kidneys, which were either histologically normal (17) or displayed histologic abnormalities (7). Telomere loss was assessed by two independent methods: Southern blotting of terminal restriction fragments (TRF) and slot blotting using telomere-specific probes. The results of these methods correlated with each other. The mean TRF length determined by Southern blotting in cortex was about 12 kb pairs (kbp) in infancy and was shorter in older kidneys. The slope of the regression line was about 0.029 kbp (0.24%, P = 0.023) per year. Telomere DNA loss in cortex by the slot blot method was 0.25% per year (P = 0.011). By both methods, the telomere loss in medulla was not significant and was less than in cortex. Comparisons of TRF length from 20 paired samples from cortex and medulla showed that TRF was greater in cortex than medulla, with the differences being greater in young kidneys and lessening with age due to telomere loss in cortex. These findings indicate that telomeres shorten in an age-dependent manner in the kidney, either due to developmental factors or aging, particularly in renal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anette Melk
- Division of Nephrology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Transplantation Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vido Ramassar
- Division of Nephrology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lisa M H Helms
- Division of Nephrology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ron Moore
- Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - David Rayner
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kim Solez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Philip F Halloran
- Division of Nephrology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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