Elwood Ngaire
Leukaemia Research Fund Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Clinical Haematology and Oncology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
Cancer Control. 2004 Mar-Apr;11(2):77-85. doi: 10.1177/107327480401100214.
Telomeres are protein DNA structures present at the ends of chromosomes and are essential for genetic stability and cell replication. Telomerase is the enzyme complex that maintains telomere integrity. Hematopoietic stem cells express telomerase and contain long telomeres, which become shorter as cells differentiate and mature. The extent of telomere shortening and the level of telomerase activity often correlate with the presence and severity of some hematopoietic diseases.
The fundamentals of telomeres and telomerase are reviewed, and the telomere biology of human hematopoietic cells is discussed.
Telomere length and telomerase activity are important in the self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells. Changes within these compartments affect both normal hematopoietic cells and the generation of hematopoietic disease. Telomere length provides information pertaining to the proliferative history and potential of a hematopoietic cell.
The role of telomerase and telomeres within the hematopoietic compartment needs further clarification. Advances in our knowledge in this field may improve clinical outcomes for the treatment of hematologic disease.
端粒是存在于染色体末端的蛋白质-DNA结构，对遗传稳定性和细胞复制至关重要。端粒酶是维持端粒完整性的酶复合物。造血干细胞表达端粒酶并含有长端粒，随着细胞分化和成熟，端粒会变短。端粒缩短的程度和端粒酶活性水平通常与某些造血疾病的存在和严重程度相关。
综述了端粒和端粒酶的基本原理，并讨论了人类造血细胞的端粒生物学。
端粒长度和端粒酶活性在造血干细胞的自我更新中很重要。这些部分的变化会影响正常造血细胞和造血疾病的发生。端粒长度提供了有关造血细胞增殖历史和潜能的信息。
端粒酶和端粒在造血系统中的作用需要进一步阐明。我们在该领域知识的进步可能会改善血液疾病的临床治疗效果。
