Telomerase reverse transcriptase induces basal and amino acid starvation-induced autophagy through mTORC1

Genetics Influences Telomere Length in Parkinson's Disease: A Study in Monozygotic Discordant Twins

BACKGROUND

Parkinson's disease (PD) results from complex interactions among environmental, genetic, and aging factors. Telomeres, which ensure chromosome stability, naturally shorten with cell division, contributing to aging and cellular senescence. However, studies investigating telomere length (TL) in PD have produced inconsistent results.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the relationship between TL and PD using a unique PD-discordant monozygotic twin design, which minimizes confounding factors such as age, gender, and genetic background. We also examined the impact of PD-related genetic mutations on TL.

METHODS

We analyzed relative telomere length (RTL) in blood samples from 29 pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for PD. Data was stratified by disease duration, and we investigated the influence of genetic variants (GBA1 and LRRK2) on RTL.

RESULTS

No significant difference in RTL was observed between PD-affected twins and their healthy co-twins overall. However, twins with longer disease duration (≥8 years) showed a significant decline in RTL (0.90 ± 0.18 vs. 1.07 ± 0.24; P = 0.046), which was more pronounced with a 10-year disease duration cutoff (0.85 ± 0.18 vs. 1.06 ± 0.22; P = 0.015). GBA1-mutated PD twins exhibited significantly longer RTL than non-mutated twins, a result replicated in non-twin GBA1 carriers and extended to LRRK2 carriers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that aging and cellular senescence primarily drive sporadic PD, whereas genetic forms are linked to disruptions in cellular pathways, such as lysosomal or mitochondrial functions. These insights highlight the role of genetics in telomere dynamics in PD. © 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

IGF2BPs-regulated TIN2 confers the malignant biological behaviors of gastric cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Telomere maintenance is an important feature of tumor cells. Telomeric-repeat binding factor 1 interaction nuclear protein 2 (TIN2), a key member of the shelterin proteins, functions in regulating telomere structure, length and function. Our work sought to investigate the role of TIN2 in controlling gastric cancer (GC) malignant biological behaviors.

METHODS

The mRNA and protein expressions were examined by qRT-PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence assays. The relative telomerase activity and telomere length were detected using the corresponding kit and qRT-PCR, respectively. The proliferation, migration and invasion abilities were detected by CCK8 and transwell assays, respectively. Cellular oxidative stress level and Fe2 + content were assessed by DCFH-DA staining and ELISA assays, respectively. The interaction between IGF2BP1/2/3 and TIN2 was analyzed by RIP and RNA pull down assays.

RESULTS

TIN2 expression was significantly increased in GC cells compared with it in gastric mucosal epithelial cells. TIN2 knockdown could impair telomerase function and induce DNA injury in GC cells. Moreover, silencing of TIN2 greatly repressed cell proliferation, metastasis, and autophagy in GC cells. Likewise, the antioxidant capacity and Fe2+ content were enhanced after TIN2 depletion, leading to the activation of cellular ferroptosis. In terms of mechanism, TIN2 mRNA could be recognized by IGF2BP1/2/3, and its mRNA expression and stability were decreased upon IGF2BP1/2/3 was knocked down.

CONCLUSION

Knockdown of TIN2 could restrained telomerase function and the malignant abilities of proliferation, metastasis and autophagy but induced ferroptosis of GC cells, which suggested that targeting TIN2 might be a therapeutic strategy for GC.

The Impact of Ten Days of Periodic Fasting on the Modulation of the Longevity Gene in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Quasi-Experimental Study

BACKGROUND

Fasting potentially alters the aging process induced by obesity by regulating telomere integrity, which is related to longevity genes. However, the impact of periodic fasting (PF) on the expression of longevity genes, particularly Forkhead Box O Transcription Factors (FOXO3a) and the Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT), is not fully understood. This study aimed to analyze the effects of PF, specifically on FOXO3a, hTERT expression, and other associated factors.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental 10-day study was conducted in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. This study consisted of an intervention group (PFG), which carried out PF for ten days using a daily 12 h time-restricted eating protocol, and a control group (CG), which had daily meals as usual. FOXO3a and hTERT expression were analyzed by quantitative real-time qPCR. A paired t-test/Wilcoxon test, independent t-test/Mann-Whitney U-test, and Spearman's correlation test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULT

Thirty-six young men participated in this study. During the post-test period, FOXO3a expression in the PFG increased 28.56 (±114.05) times compared to the pre-test, but the difference was not significant. hTERT expression was significantly higher in both the CG and PFG. The hTERT expression in the PFG was 10.26 (±8.46) times higher than in the CG, which was only 4.73 (±4.81) times higher. There was also a positive relationship between FOXO and hTERT in the CG.

CONCLUSIONS

PF significantly increased hTERT expression in the PFG; however, no significant increase was found in FOXO3a expression. PF regimens using the 12 h time-restricted eating approach may become a potential strategy for preventing obesity-induced premature aging by regulating longevity gene expression.

Autophagy in aging-related diseases and cancer: Principles, regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Macroautophagy/autophagy is primarily accountable for the degradation of damaged organelles and toxic macromolecules in the cells. Regarding the essential function of autophagy for preserving cellular homeostasis, changes in, or dysfunction of, autophagy flux can lead to disease development. In the current paper, the complicated function of autophagy in aging-associated pathologies and cancer is evaluated, highlighting the underlying molecular mechanisms that can affect longevity and disease pathogenesis. As a natural biological process, a reduction in autophagy is observed with aging, resulting in an accumulation of cell damage and the development of different diseases, including neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The MTOR, AMPK, and ATG proteins demonstrate changes during aging, and they are promising therapeutic targets. Insulin/IGF1, TOR, PKA, AKT/PKB, caloric restriction and mitochondrial respiration are vital for lifespan regulation and can modulate or have an interaction with autophagy. The specific types of autophagy, such as mitophagy that degrades mitochondria, can regulate aging by affecting these organelles and eliminating those mitochondria with genomic mutations. Autophagy and its specific types contribute to the regulation of carcinogenesis and they are able to dually enhance or decrease cancer progression. Cancer hallmarks, including proliferation, metastasis, therapy resistance and immune reactions, are tightly regulated by autophagy, supporting the conclusion that autophagy is a promising target in cancer therapy.

Differential effects of long- and short-term exposure to PM2.5 on accelerating telomere shortening: from in vitro to epidemiological studies

Exposure to air pollutants has been associated with DNA damage and increases the risks of respiratory diseases, such as asthma and COPD; however short- and long-term effects of air pollutants on telomere dysfunction remain unclear. We investigated the impact of short- and long-term exposure to fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on telomere length in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells, and assessed the potential correlation between PM2.5 exposure and telomere length in the LIGHTS childhood cohort study. We observed that long-term, but not short-term, PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with telomere shortening, along with the downregulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, long-term exposure to PM2.5 induced proinflammatory cytokine secretion, notably interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-8, triggered subG1 cell cycle arrest, and ultimately caused cell death. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 upregulated the LC3-II/ LC3-I ratio but led to p62 protein accumulation in BEAS-2B cells, suggesting a blockade of autophagic flux. Moreover, consistent with our in vitro findings, our epidemiological study found significant association between annual average exposure to higher PM2.5 and shortening of leukocyte telomere length in children. However, no significant association between 7-day short-term exposure to PM2.5 and leukocyte telomere length was observed in children. By combining in vitro experimental and epidemiological studies, our findings provide supportive evidence linking potential regulatory mechanisms to population level with respect to long-term PM2.5 exposure to telomere shortening in humans.

Electroacupuncture pretreatment preserves telomerase reverse transcriptase function and alleviates postoperative cognitive dysfunction by suppressing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in aged mice

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients often exhibit postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), a postsurgical decline in memory and executive function. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, both pathological characteristics of the aged brain, contribute to this decline. This study posits that electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation, an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory modality, may enhance telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) function, the catalytic subunit of telomerase known for its protective properties against cellular senescence and oxidative damage, to alleviate POCD in aged mice.

METHODS

The animal POCD model was created by subjecting aged mice to abdominal surgery, followed by EA pretreatment at the Baihui acupoint (GV20). Postoperative cognitive function was gauged using the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Hippocampal TERT mRNA levels and telomerase activity were determined through qPCR and a Telomerase PCR ELISA kit, respectively. Oxidative stress was assessed through superoxide dismutase (SOD), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Iba-1 immunostaining determined the quantity of hippocampal microglia. Additionally, western blotting assessed TERT, autophagy markers, and proinflammatory cytokines at the protein level.

RESULTS

Abdominal surgery in aged mice significantly decreased telomerase activity and TERT mRNA and protein levels, but increased oxidative stress and neuroinflammation and decreased autophagy in the hippocampus. EA-pretreated mice demonstrated improved postoperative cognitive performance, enhanced telomerase activity, increased TERT protein expression, improved TERT mitochondrial localization, and reduced oxidative damage, autophagy dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. The neuroprotective benefits of EA pretreatment were diminished following TERT knockdown.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore the significance of TERT function preservation in alleviating surgery-induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in aged mice. A novel neuroprotective mechanism of EA stimulation is highlighted, whereby modulation of TERT and telomerase activity reduces oxidative damage and neuroinflammation. Consequently, maintaining TERT function via EA treatment could serve as an effective strategy for managing POCD in elderly patients.

Telomerase and hallmarks of cancer: An intricate interplay governing cancer cell evolution

Transformed cells must acquire specific characteristics to be malignant. Weinberg and Hanahan characterize these characteristics as cancer hallmarks. Though these features are independently driven, substantial signaling crosstalk in transformed cells efficiently promotes these feature acquisitions. Telomerase is an enzyme complex that maintains telomere length. However, its main component, Telomere reverse transcriptase (TERT), has been found to interact with various signaling molecules like cMYC, NF-kB, BRG1 and cooperate in transcription and metabolic reprogramming, acting as a strong proponent of malignant features such as cell death resistance, sustained proliferation, angiogenesis activation, and metastasis, among others. It allows cells to avoid replicative senescence and achieve endless replicative potential. This review summarizes both the canonical and noncanonical functions of TERT and discusses how they promote cancer hallmarks. Understanding the role of Telomerase in promoting cancer hallmarks provides vital insight into the underlying mechanism of cancer genesis and progression and telomerase intervention as a possible therapeutic target for cancer treatment. More investigation into the precise molecular mechanisms of telomerase-mediated impacts on cancer hallmarks will contribute to developing more focused and customized cancer treatment methods.

Genetic Variants in Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Contribute to Solar Lentigines

Solar lentigines (SLs) are a hallmark of human skin aging. They result from chronic exposure to sunlight and other environmental stressors. Recent studies also imply genetic factors, but findings are partially conflicting and lack of replication. Through a multi-trait based analysis strategy, we discovered that genetic variants in telomerase reverse transcriptase were significantly associated with non-facial SL in two East Asian (Taizhou longitudinal cohort, n = 2,964 and National Survey of Physical Traits, n = 2,954) and one Caucasian population (SALIA, n = 462), top SNP rs2853672 (P-value for Taizhou longitudinal cohort = 1.32 × 10‒28 and P-value for National Survey of Physical Traits = 3.66 × 10‒17 and P-value for SALIA = 0.0007 and Pmeta = 4.93 × 10‒44). The same variants were nominally associated with facial SL but not with other skin aging or skin pigmentation traits. The SL-enhanced allele/haplotype upregulated the transcription of the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene. Of note, well-known telomerase reverse transcriptase‒related aging markers such as leukocyte telomere length and intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration were not associated with SL. Our results indicate a previously unrecognized role of telomerase reverse transcriptase in skin aging‒related lentigines formation.

Functional association between telomeres, oxidation and mitochondria

Prior research has substantiated the vital role of telomeres in human fertility. Telomeres are prerequisites for maintaining the integrity of chromosomes by preventing the loss of genetic material following replication events. Little is known about the association between sperm telomere length and mitochondrial capacity involving its structure and functions. Mitochondria are structurally and functionally distinct organelles that are located on the spermatozoon's midpiece. Mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which is necessary for sperm motility and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). While a moderate concentration of ROS is critical for egg-sperm fusion, and fertilization, excessive ROS generation is primarily related to telomere shortening, sperm DNA fragmentation, and alterations in the methylation pattern leading to male infertility. This review aims to highlight the functional connection between mitochondria biogenesis and telomere length in male infertility, as mitochondrial lesions have a damaging impact on telomere length, leading both to telomere lengthening and reprogramming of mitochondrial biosynthesis. Furthermore, it aims to shed light on how both inositol and antioxidants can positively affect male fertility.

Recent Insights Concerning Autophagy and Endothelial Cell Nitric Oxide Generation

Although endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction contributes to the etiology of more diseases than any other tissue in the body, EC metabolism is an understudied therapeutic target. Evidence regarding the important role of autophagy in maintaining EC homeostasis is accumulating rapidly. Here we focus on advances over the past two years regarding how EC autophagy mediates EC nitric oxide generation in the context of aging and cardiovascular complications including coronary artery disease, aneurysm, and stroke. In addition, insight concerning the efficacy of maneuvers designed to boost EC autophagy in an effort to combat cardiovascular complications associated with repressed EC autophagy is discussed.

KLF4 prevented angiotensin II-induced smooth muscle cell senescence by enhancing autophagic activity

BACKGROUND

Vascular aging is an important risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases. Transcription factor krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) could regulate the phenotypic transformation of the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) in the pathogenesis of aortic diseases. The present study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of KLF4 in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced VSMC senescence.

METHODS

The VSMC senescence mouse model was induced by sustained release of Ang II (1.0 μg/kg/min) for 4 weeks. The premature senescent VSMCs were induced by Ang II (0.1 μmol/L) for 72 h. Cellular senescence was measured by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity and p53/p16 expression. The autophagic activity was evaluated by autophagic flux and autophagic marker expression.

RESULTS

The expression of KLF4 was extremely increased in abdominal aorta tissues after 1-week Ang II stimulation (p < .01) but began to decrease in later periods. Decreased expression of KLF4 was also detected in premature senescent VSMCs. Overexpression of KLF4 could enhance the antisenescence ability of VSMCs. Significantly decreased amounts of SA-β-gal-positive cells and lower p53/p16 expression were detected in KLF4-overexpressing VSMCs (p < .01). Next, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) was identified as a direct downstream target of KLF4 in VSMCs. Overexpression of KLF4 in VSMCs prevented the decreased expression of TERT under Ang II stimulation condition, which could in turn, contribute to the enhanced autophagic activity, and ultimately to the improved antisenescence ability of VSMCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that overexpression of KLF4 prevented Ang II-induced VSMC senescence by promoting TERT-mediated autophagy. These findings provided novel potential targets for the prevention and therapy of vascular aging.

The absence of cellular glucose triggers oncogene AEG-1 that instigates VEGFC in HCC: A possible genetic root cause of angiogenesis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1 (AEG-1) is the master and multi-regulator of the various transcriptional factor primarily regulating chemoresistance, angiogenesis, metastasis, and invasion under the pathological condition, including liver cancer. This study was focused on investigating the process of tumor angiogenesis in liver carcinoma by studying the role of AEG-1 under GD/2DG conditions.

METHOD AND RESULTS

The PCR and western blot analysis revealed that glucose depletion (GD) induces the overexpression of AEG-1. Further, it leads to the constant expression of VEGFC through the activation of HIF-1α/CCR7 via the stimulations of PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. GLUT2 is the major transporter of a glucose molecule that is highly participating under GD through the expression of AEG-1 and constantly expresses glucokinase (GCK). The obtained data suggest that AEG-1 act as an angiogenesis and glycolysis regulator by modulating the expression of GCK through HIF-1α and GLUT2. 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) is a glycolysis inhibitor that induces impaired glycolysis and cellular apoptosis by cellular oxidative stress. The administration of 2DG has led to the chemoresistance of AEG-1.

CONCLUSION

The total findings of the study judged that disruption of cellular energy metabolism induced by the absence of glucose or the presence of mutant glucose moiety (2DG) promotes the overexpression of AEG-1. The GD/2DG activates the VEGFC by inducing the HIF-1α and CCR7. Moreover, AEG-1 induces the expression of OPN, which regulates metastasis, angiogenesis, and actively participates in protective autophagy by promoting LC3 a/b.

Microgravity and space radiation inhibit autophagy in human capillary endothelial cells, through either opposite or synergistic effects on specific molecular pathways

Microgravity and space radiation (SR) are two highly influential factors affecting humans in space flight (SF). Many health problems reported by astronauts derive from endothelial dysfunction and impaired homeostasis. Here, we describe the adaptive response of human, capillary endothelial cells to SF. Reference samples on the ground and at 1g onboard permitted discrimination between the contribution of microgravity and SR within the combined responses to SF. Cell softening and reduced motility occurred in SF cells, with a loss of actin stress fibers and a broader distribution of microtubules and intermediate filaments within the cytoplasm than in control cells. Furthermore, in space the number of primary cilia per cell increased and DNA repair mechanisms were found to be activated. Transcriptomics revealed the opposing effects of microgravity from SR for specific molecular pathways: SR, unlike microgravity, stimulated pathways for endothelial activation, such as hypoxia and inflammation, DNA repair and apoptosis, inhibiting autophagic flux and promoting an aged-like phenotype. Conversely, microgravity, unlike SR, activated pathways for metabolism and a pro-proliferative phenotype. Therefore, we suggest microgravity and SR should be considered separately to tailor effective countermeasures to protect astronauts' health.

The mTOR-lysosome axis at the centre of ageing

Age‐related diseases represent some of the largest unmet clinical needs of our time. While treatment of specific disease‐related signs has had some success (for example, the effect of statin drugs on slowing progression of atherosclerosis), slowing biological ageing itself represents a target that could significantly increase health span and reduce the prevalence of multiple age‐related diseases. Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is known to control fundamental processes in ageing: inhibiting this signalling complex slows biological ageing, reduces age‐related disease pathology and increases lifespan in model organisms. How mTORC1 inhibition achieves this is still subject to ongoing research. However, one mechanism by which mTORC1 inhibition is thought to slow ageing is by activating the autophagy–lysosome pathway. In this review, we examine the special bidirectional relationship between mTORC1 and the lysosome. In cells, mTORC1 is located on lysosomes. From this advantageous position, it directly controls the autophagy–lysosome pathway. However, the lysosome also controls mTORC1 activity in numerous ways, creating a special two‐way relationship. We then explore specific examples of how inhibition of mTORC1 and activation of the autophagy–lysosome pathway slow the molecular hallmarks of ageing. This body of literature demonstrates that the autophagy–lysosome pathway represents an excellent target for treatments that seek to slow biological ageing and increase health span in humans.

Autophagy and the hallmarks of aging

Autophagy, an essential cellular process that mediates degradation of proteins and organelles in lysosomes, has been tightly linked to cellular quality control for its role as part of the proteostasis network. The current interest in identifying the cellular and molecular determinants of aging, has highlighted the important contribution of malfunctioning of autophagy with age to the loss of proteostasis that characterizes all old organisms. However, the diversity of cellular functions of the different types of autophagy and the often reciprocal interactions of autophagy with other determinants of aging, is placing autophagy at the center of the aging process. In this work, we summarize evidence for the contribution of autophagy to health- and lifespan and provide examples of the bidirectional interplay between autophagic pathways and several of the so-called hallmarks of aging. This central role of autophagy in aging, and the dependence on autophagy of many geroprotective interventions, has motivated a search for direct modulators of autophagy that could be used to slow aging and extend healthspan. Here, we review some of those ongoing therapeutic efforts and comment on the potential of targeting autophagy in aging.

Autophagy, TERT, and mitochondrial dysfunction in hyperoxia

Ventilation with gases containing enhanced fractions of oxygen is the cornerstone of therapy for patients with hypoxia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Yet, hyperoxia treatment increases free reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced lung injury, which is reported to disrupt autophagy/mitophagy. Altered extranuclear activity of the catalytic subunit of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), plays a protective role in ROS injury and autophagy in the systemic and coronary endothelium. We investigated interactions between autophagy/mitophagy and TERT that contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction and pulmonary injury in cultured rat lung microvascular endothelial cells (RLMVECs) exposed in vitro, and rat lungs exposed in vivo to hyperoxia for 48 h. Hyperoxia-induced mitochondrial damage in rat lungs [TOMM20, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)], which was paralleled by increased markers of inflammation [myeloperoxidase (MPO), IL-1β, TLR9], impaired autophagy signaling (Beclin-1, LC3B-II/1, and p62), and decreased the expression of TERT. Mitochondrial-specific autophagy (mitophagy) was not altered, as hyperoxia increased expression of Pink1 but not Parkin. Hyperoxia-induced mitochondrial damage (TOMM20) was more pronounced in rats that lack the catalytic subunit of TERT and resulted in a reduction in cellular proliferation rather than cell death in RLMVECs. Activation of TERT or autophagy individually offset mitochondrial damage (MTT). Combined activation/inhibition failed to alleviate hyperoxic-induced mitochondrial damage in vitro, whereas activation of autophagy in vivo decreased mitochondrial damage (MTT) in both wild type (WT) and rats lacking TERT. Functionally, activation of either TERT or autophagy preserved transendothelial membrane resistance. Altogether, these observations show that activation of autophagy/mitophagy and/or TERT mitigate loss of mitochondrial function and barrier integrity in hyperoxia.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells and in lungs exposed in vivo to hyperoxia, autophagy is activated, but clearance of autophagosomes is impaired in a manner that suggests cross talk between TERT and autophagy. Stimulation of autophagy prevents hyperoxia-induced decreases in mitochondrial metabolism and sustains monolayer resistance. Hyperoxia increases mitochondrial outer membrane (TOMM20) protein, decreases mitochondrial function, and reduces cellular proliferation without increasing cell death.

Telomeres and Age-Related Diseases

Telomeres are at the non-coding ends of linear chromosomes. Through a complex 3-dimensional structure, they protect the coding DNA and ensure appropriate separation of chromosomes. Aging is characterized by a progressive shortening of telomeres, which compromises their structure and function. Because of their protective function for genomic DNA, telomeres appear to play an important role in the development and progression of many age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), malignancies, dementia, and osteoporosis. Despite substantial evidence that links telomere length with these conditions, the nature of these observations remains insufficiently understood. Therefore, future studies should address the question of causality. Furthermore, analytical methods should be further improved with the aim to provide informative and comparable results. This review summarize the actual knowledge of telomere biology and the possible implications of telomere dysfunction for the development and progression of age-related diseases. Furthermore, we provide an overview of analytical techniques for the measurement of telomere length and telomerase activity.

Potential of Telomerase in Age-Related Macular Degeneration-Involvement of Senescence, DNA Damage Response and Autophagy and a Key Role of PGC-1α

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the main cause of vision loss in the elderly, is associated with oxidation in the retina cells promoting telomere attrition. Activation of telomerase was reported to improve macular functions in AMD patients. The catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT) may directly interact with proteins important for senescence, DNA damage response, and autophagy, which are impaired in AMD. hTERT interaction with mTORC1 (mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) complex 1) and PINK1 (PTEN-induced kinase 1) activates macroautophagy and mitophagy, respectively, and removes cellular debris accumulated over AMD progression. Ectopic expression of telomerase in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells lengthened telomeres, reduced senescence, and extended their lifespan. These effects provide evidence for the potential of telomerase in AMD therapy. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) may be involved in AMD pathogenesis through decreasing oxidative stress and senescence, regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and improving autophagy. PGC-1α and TERT form an inhibitory positive feedback loop. In conclusion, telomerase activation and its ectopic expression in RPE cells, as well as controlled clinical trials on the effects of telomerase activation in AMD patients, are justified and should be assisted by PGC-1α modulators to increase the therapeutic potential of telomerase in AMD.

Autophagic dysfunction of β cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes, a double-edged sword

Diabetes is an age-related disease, most of which is type 2 diabetes, and islet β cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are the main mechanisms of type 2 diabetes. Recent studies have revealed that autophagy plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function of islet beta cells and inhibiting insulin resistance and apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. In this review, we discussed the positive and negative effects of autophagy and its dysfunction on type 2 diabetes mellitus, which is the so-called double-edged sword, analysed its possible mechanism, and identified possible research hot spots.

Telomerase in Brain: The New Kid on the Block and Its Role in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Telomerase is an enzyme that in its canonical function extends and maintains telomeres, the ends of chromosomes. This reverse transcriptase function is mainly important for dividing cells that shorten their telomeres continuously. However, there are a number of telomere-independent functions known for the telomerase protein TERT (Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase). This includes the shuttling of the TERT protein from the nucleus to mitochondria where it decreases oxidative stress, apoptosis sensitivity and DNA damage. Recently, evidence has accumulated on a protective role of TERT in brain and postmitotic neurons. This function might be able to ameliorate the effects of toxic proteins such as amyloid-β, pathological tau and α-synuclein involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the protective mechanisms of TERT are not clear yet. Recently, an activation of autophagy as an important protein degradation process for toxic neuronal proteins by TERT has been described. This review summarises the current knowledge about the non-canonical role of the telomerase protein TERT in brain and shows its potential benefit for the amelioration of brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and PD. This might form the basis for the development of novel strategies and therapies against those diseases.

hTERT Downregulation Attenuates Resistance to DOX, Impairs FAK-Mediated Adhesion, and Leads to Autophagy Induction in Breast Cancer Cells

Telomerase is known to contribute to telomere maintenance and to provide cancer cell immortality. However, numerous reports are showing that the function of the enzyme goes far beyond chromosome ends. The study aimed to explore how telomerase downregulation in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells affects their ability to survive. Consequently, sensitivity to drug resistance, proliferation, and adhesion were assessed. The lentiviral-mediated human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) downregulation efficiency was performed at gene expression and protein level using qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Telomerase activity was evaluated using the Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol (TRAP) assay. The study revealed that hTERT downregulation led to an increased sensitivity of breast cancer cells to doxorubicin which was demonstrated in MTT and clonogenic assays. During a long-term doubling time assessment, a decreased population doubling level was observed. Interestingly, it did not dramatically affect cell cycle distribution. hTERT downregulation was accompanied by an alteration in β1-integrin- and by focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-driven pathways together with the reduction of target proteins phosphorylation, i.e., paxillin and c-Src. Additionally, autophagy activation was observed in MDA-MB-231 cells manifested by alternations in Atg5, Beclin 1, LC3II/I ratio, and p62. These results provide new evidence supporting the possible therapeutic potential of telomerase downregulation leading to induction of autophagy and cancer cells elimination.

At the Crossroads: Mechanisms of Apoptosis and Autophagy in Cell Life and Death

Apoptosis and autophagy are conserved processes that regulate cell survival and death under stress conditions. Apoptosis aims to remove cells from the body with minimal damage to surrounding tissues. Autophagy promotes removal of damaged organelles, protein aggregates, and cellular pathogens, stimulating cell survival. The signaling pathways involved in the regulation of apoptosis and autophagy largely overlap, leading to both competition and unidirectional interaction, which is of particular interest in investigating them as potential targets for cancer, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disease therapies. This review analyzes the main pathways of molecular interactions between autophagy and apoptosis, which is necessary for understanding the mechanism maintaining the balance between cell death and survival under unfavorable conditions.

The Regulation of ROS- and BECN1-Mediated Autophagy by Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor with high morbidity and mortality. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the catalytic subunit of human telomerase, is overexpressed in most cancers including GBM. It is well known that hTERT can compensate telomere shortening to immortalize cells. However, in addition to the canonical function, hTERT has the roles beyond canonical telomere maintenance. To further understand the effects of hTERT on glioblastoma progression, we investigated the role of hTERT in regulating autophagy-a conserved pathway, by which cells deliver cellular organic material and impaired organelles to the lysosomes for degradation and recycle these cargos to produce energy under a stressful condition. Our results showed that downregulation of hTERT impaired autophagy levels by suppressing BECN1/beclin-1 and induced an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which resulted in cell death ultimately. On the contrary, overexpression of BECN1 or treating cells with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could restore the survival of hTERT knockdown cells. Our study will provide an additional basis of telomerase-targeting therapy for future clinical anticancer treatment.

HIF-1α-Mediated Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Activation Inducing Autophagy Through Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Promotes Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Progression During Hypoxia Stress

Background: It is important to properly understand the molecular mechanisms of aggressive tumors among papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) that are often the most indolent. Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), induced by hypoxia, plays pivotal roles in the development and metastasis of the many tumors, including PTCs. Upregulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) activity is found in highly invasive PTCs. Further, previous studies have reported that autophagy serves as a protective mechanism to facilitate PTC cell survival. We, therefore, hypothesized that there was a link between HIF-1α, TERT, and autophagy in promoting PTC progression. Methods: Immunohistochemistry staining was conducted to evaluate the expressions of HIF-1α, TERT, and autophagy marker, LC3-II, in matched PTC tumors and corresponding nontumor tissues. Two PTC cell lines (TPC-1 and BCPAP) were used in subsequent cytological function studies. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were assessed during hypoxia, genetic enhancement and inhibition of TERT, and chemical and genetic inhibition of autophagy. The protein expression levels of the corresponding biomarkers were determined by Western blotting, and autophagy flow was detected. We characterized the molecular mechanism of PTC cell progression. Results: The protein expression levels of HIF-1α, TERT, and LC3-II were upregulated in PTCs and were significantly correlated with high tumor-node-metastasis stage. Further, an in vitro study indicated that HIF-1α induced by hypoxia functioned as a transcriptional activator by binding with sequences potentially located in the TERT promoter and was positively correlated with the malignant behavior of PTC cell lines. Overexpression of TERT inhibited the kinase activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), resulting in the activation of autophagy. Functionally, TERT-induced autophagy provided a survival advantage to PTC cells during hypoxia stress. Conclusions: We identified a novel molecular mechanism involving the HIF-1α/TERT axis, which promoted PTC progression by inducing autophagy through mTOR during hypoxia stress. These findings may provide a basis for the new treatment of aggressive PTCs.

Telomerase as a Therapeutic Target in Cardiovascular Disease

Shortened telomeres have been linked to numerous chronic diseases, most importantly coronary artery disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain ill defined. Loss-of-function mutations and deletions in telomerase both accelerate telomere shortening but do not necessarily lead to a clinical phenotype associated with atherosclerosis, questioning the causal role of telomere length in cardiac pathology. The differential extranuclear functions of the 2 main components of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase and telomerase RNA component, offer important clues about the complex relationship between telomere length and cardiovascular pathology. In this review, we critically discuss relevant preclinical models, genetic disorders, and clinical studies to elucidate the impact of telomerase in cardiovascular disease and its potential role as a therapeutic target. We suggest that the antioxidative function of mitochondrial telomerase reverse transcriptase might be atheroprotective, making it a potential target for clinical trials. Graphic Abstract: A graphic abstract is available for this article.

Defective Autophagy and Mitophagy in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

Aging is the time-dependent process that all living organisms go through characterized by declining physiological function due to alterations in metabolic and molecular pathways. Many decades of research have been devoted to uncovering the cellular changes and progression of aging and have revealed that not all organisms with the same chronological age exhibit the same age-related declines in physiological function. In assessing biological age, factors such as epigenetic changes, telomere length, oxidative damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction in rescue mechanisms such as autophagy all play major roles. Recent studies have focused on autophagy dysfunction in aging, particularly on mitophagy due to its major role in energy generation and reactive oxidative species generation of mitochondria. Mitophagy has been implicated in playing a role in the pathogenesis of many age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's, Huntington's, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The purpose of our article is to highlight the mechanisms of autophagy and mitophagy and how defects in these pathways contribute to the physiological markers of aging and AD. This article also discusses how mitochondrial dysfunction, abnormal mitochondrial dynamics, impaired biogenesis, and defective mitophagy are related to aging and AD progression. This article highlights recent studies of amyloid beta and phosphorylated tau in relation to autophagy and mitophagy in AD.

Critical Interaction Between Telomerase and Autophagy in Mediating Flow-Induced Human Arteriolar Vasodilation

OBJECTIVE

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with a compensatory switch in mechanism of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) from nitric oxide (NO) to H₂O₂. The underlying mechanism responsible for the pathological shift is not well understood, and recent reports directly implicate telomerase and indirectly support a role for autophagy. We hypothesize that autophagy is critical for shear stress-induced release of NO and is a crucial component of for the pathway by which telomerase regulates FMD. Approach and Results: Human left ventricular, atrial, and adipose resistance arterioles were collected for videomicroscopy and immunoblotting. FMD and autophagic flux were measured in arterioles treated with autophagy modulators alone, and in tandem with telomerase-activity modulators. LC3B II/I was higher in left ventricular tissue from patients with CAD compared with non-CAD (2.8±0.2 versus 1.0±0.2-fold change; P<0.05), although p62 was similar between groups. Shear stress increased Lysotracker fluorescence in non-CAD arterioles, with no effect in CAD arterioles. Inhibition of autophagy in non-CAD arterioles induced a switch from NO to H₂O₂, while activation of autophagy restored NO-mediated vasodilation in CAD arterioles. In the presence of an autophagy activator, telomerase inhibitor prevented the expected switch (Control: 82±4%; NG-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester: 36±5%; polyethylene glycol catalase: 80±3). Telomerase activation was unable to restore NO-mediated FMD in the presence of autophagy inhibition in CAD arterioles (control: 72±7%; NG-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester: 79±7%; polyethylene glycol catalase: 38±9%).

CONCLUSIONS

We provide novel evidence that autophagy is responsible for the pathological switch in dilator mechanism in CAD arterioles, demonstrating that autophagy acts downstream of telomerase as a common denominator in determining the mechanism of FMD.

Increased telomerase improves motor function and alpha-synuclein pathology in a transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's disease associated with enhanced autophagy

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Telomerase activators (TA) increase Tert expression in brains of a PD mouse model.

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Activator treatment improves PD motor symptoms: gait and balance.

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Activators reduce different forms of alpha-synuclein in brains of transgenic mice.

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Decreased autophagy markers LC3 and p62 suggest a better protein degradation.

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Our preclinical data suggest a use of TA to ameliorate PD-like symptoms.

Protective effects of the telomerase protein TERT have been shown in neurons and brain. We previously demonstrated that TERT protein can accumulate in mitochondria of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains and protect from pathological tau in primary mouse neurons. This prompted us to employ telomerase activators in order to boost telomerase expression in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) overexpressing human wild type α-synuclein. Our aim was to test whether increased Tert expression levels were able to ameliorate PD symptoms and to activate protein degradation.

We found increased Tert expression in brain for both activators which correlated with a substantial improvement of motor functions such as gait and motor coordination while telomere length in the analysed region was not changed. Interestingly, only one activator (TA-65) resulted in a decrease of reactive oxygen species from brain mitochondria. Importantly, we demonstrate that total, phosphorylated and aggregated α-synuclein were significantly decreased in the hippocampus and neocortex of activator-treated mice corresponding to enhanced markers of autophagy suggesting an improved degradation of toxic alpha-synuclein. We conclude that increased Tert expression caused by telomerase activators is associated with decreased α-synuclein protein levels either by activating autophagy or by preventing or delaying impairment of degradation mechanisms during disease progression. This encouraging preclinical data could be translated into novel therapeutic options for neurodegenerative disorders such as PD.

Vascular autophagy in health and disease

Homeostasis is maintained within organisms through the physiological recycling process of autophagy, a catabolic process that is intricately involved in the mobilization of nutrients during starvation, recycling of cellular cargo, as well as initiation of cellular death pathways. Specific to the cardiovascular system, autophagy responds to both chemical (e.g. free radicals) and mechanical stressors (e.g. shear stress). It is imperative to note that autophagy is not a static process, and measurement of autophagic flux provides a more comprehensive investigation into the role of autophagy. The overarching themes emerging from decades of autophagy research are that basal levels of autophagic flux are critical, physiological stressors may increase or decrease autophagic flux, and more importantly, aberrant deviations from basal autophagy may elicit detrimental effects. Autophagy has predominantly been examined within cardiac or vascular smooth muscle tissue within the context of disease development and progression. Autophagic flux within the endothelium holds an important role in maintaining vascular function, demonstrated by the necessary role for intact autophagic flux for shear-induced release of nitric oxide however the underlying mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Within this review, we theorize that autophagy itself does not solely control vascular homeostasis, rather, it works in concert with mitochondria, telomerase, and lipids to maintain physiological function. The primary emphasis of this review is on the role of autophagy within the human vasculature, and the integrative effects with physiological processes and diseases as they relate to the vascular structure and function.

Glucose-lowering effect of Gryllus bimaculatus powder on streptozotocin-induced diabetes through the AKT/mTOR pathway

This study was carried out to elucidate the antidiabetic effects of Gryllus bimaculatus powder using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model of type I diabetes. Administration of the insect powder significantly rescued representative diabetes markers (i.e., insulin and C-peptide) in STZ-treated rats. Improved glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) results were also observed, indicating that Gryllus bimaculatus powder exerts antidiabetic effects. Gryllus bimaculatus powder administration rescued STZ-induced alterations in both islet morphology and insulin staining patterns. The extract increased antiapoptotic Bcl2 expression and decreased proapoptotic Bax and active caspase 3 expressions. In addition, the Gryllus bimaculatus powder supplementation enhanced AKT/mTOR pathway, a key marker of the state of anabolic metabolism, and its downstream effector, mTOR. Collectively, our results suggest that Gryllus bimaculatus contributes to the maintenance of pancreatic β-cell function and morphology against a diabetic state through the regulations against apoptosis and anabolic metabolism.

Autophagy, Cellular Aging and Age-related Human Diseases

Macroautophagy/autophagy is a conserved degradation system that engulfs intracytoplasmic contents, including aggregated proteins and organelles, which is crucial for cellular homeostasis. During aging, cellular factors suggested as the cause of aging have been reported to be associated with progressively compromised autophagy. Dysfunctional autophagy may contribute to age-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative disease, cancer, and metabolic syndrome, in the elderly. Therefore, restoration of impaired autophagy to normal may help to prevent age-related disease and extend lifespan and longevity. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview of the mechanisms of autophagy underlying cellular aging and the consequent disease. Understanding the mechanisms of autophagy may provide potential information to aid therapeutic interventions in age-related diseases.

Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy for tumor therapy

Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process and participates in a variety of cellular biological activities. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, as a critical regulator of autophagy, is involved in the initiation and promotion of a series of pathological disorders including various tumors. Autophagy also participates in regulating the balance between the tumor and the tumor microenvironment. Natural products have been considered a treasure of new drug discoveries and are of great value to medicine. Mounting evidence has suggested that numerous natural products are targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy, thereby suppressing tumor growth. Furthermore, autophagy plays a "double-edged sword" role in different tumors. Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy is an important therapeutic strategy for a variety of tumors, and plays important roles in enhancing the chemosensitivity of tumor cells and avoiding drug resistance. Therefore, we summarized the roles of PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy in tumorigenesis, progression, and drug resistance of tumors, which may be utilized to design preferably therapeutic strategies for various tumors.

Upstream signalling of mTORC1 and its hyperactivation in type 2 diabetes (T2D)

Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) plays a major role in cell growth, proliferation, polarity, differentiation, development, and controls transitioning between anabolic and catabolic states of the cell. It collects almost all extracellular and intracellular signals from growth factors, nutrients, and maintains cellular homeostasis, and is involved in several pathological conditions including, neurodegeneration, Type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, and cancer. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of upstream signaling of mTORC1 to explain etiology of T2D and hypertriglyceridemia, in which state, the role of telomere attrition is explained. We discuss if chronic inhibition of mTORC1 can reverse adverse effects resulting from hyperactivation. In conclusion, we suggest the regulatory roles of telomerase (TERT) and hexokinase II (HKII) on mTORC1 as possible remedies to treat hyperactivation. The former inhibits mTORC1 under nutrient-rich while the latter under starved condition. We provide an idea of TOS (TOR signaling) motifs that can be used for regulation of mTORC1.

Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Contains a BH3-Like Motif and Interacts with BCL-2 Family Members

Upregulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression is an important factor in the cellular survival and cancer. Although growing evidence suggests that hTERT inhibits cellular apoptosis by telomere-independent functions, the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Here, we show that hTERT contains a BH3-like motif, a short peptide sequence found in BCL-2 family proteins, and interacts with anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family proteins MCL-1 and BCL-xL, suggesting a functional link between hTERT and the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Additionally, we propose that hTERT can be categorized into the atypical BH3-only proteins that promote cellular survival, possibly due to the non-canonical interaction between hTERT and antiapoptotic proteins. Although the detailed mechanisms underlying the hTERT BH3-like motif functions and interactions between hTERT and BCL-2 family proteins have not been elucidated, this work proposes a possible connection between hTERT and BCL-2 family members and reconsiders the role of the BH3-like motif as an interaction motif.

Hexokinase 2 is a molecular bridge linking telomerase and autophagy

Autophagy is systematically regulated by upstream factors and nutrients. Recent studies reported that telomerase and hexokinase 2 [HK2) regulate autophagy through mTOR and that telomerase has the capacity to bind to the HK2 promoter. However, the molecular linkage among telomerase, HK2, and autophagy is not fully understood. Here, we show that HK2 connects telomerase to autophagy. HK2 inhibition in HepG2 cells suppressed TERT-induced autophagy activation and further enhancement by glucose deprivation. The HK2 downstream factor mTOR was responsible for the TERT-induced autophagy activation under glucose deprivation, implying that TERT promotes autophagy through an HK2-mTOR pathway. TERC played a role similar to that of TERT, and simultaneous expression of TERT and TERC synergistically enhanced HK2 expression and autophagy. At the gene level, TERT bound to the HK2 promoter at a specific region harboring the telomerase-responsive sequence ‘TTGGG.’ Mutagenesis of TERC and the TERT-responsive element in the HK2 promoter revealed that TERC is required for the binding of TERT to the HK2 promoter. We demonstrate the existence of a telomerase-HK2-mTOR-autophagy axis and suggest that inhibition of the interaction between telomerase and the HK2 promoter diminishes glucose starvation-induced autophagy.

Telomere Homeostasis: Interplay with Magnesium

Telomere biology, a key component of the hallmarks of ageing, offers insight into dysregulation of normative ageing processes that accompany age-related diseases such as cancer. Telomere homeostasis is tightly linked to cellular metabolism, and in particular with mitochondrial physiology, which is also diminished during cellular senescence and normative physiological ageing. Inherent in the biochemistry of these processes is the role of magnesium, one of the main cellular ions and an essential cofactor in all reactions that use ATP. Magnesium plays an important role in many of the processes involved in regulating telomere structure, integrity and function. This review explores the mechanisms that maintain telomere structure and function, their influence on circadian rhythms and their impact on health and age-related disease. The pervasive role of magnesium in telomere homeostasis is also highlighted.