端粒与自身免疫性疾病

Telomere and Autoimmune Disease

端粒是真核细胞染色体末端的特殊结构,其功能是保护染色体末端结构完整和功能稳定,染色体末端失去保护将出现染色体重组、融合、降解。端粒酶是维护端粒的核蛋白复合体,端粒酶缺乏会导致端粒长度随细胞分裂不断缩短而失去稳定性。端粒蛋白由端粒保护蛋白和端粒相关蛋白组成,是参与维护染色体结构稳定的蛋白复合体,在参与调节端粒长度、保护端粒结构和功能中发挥着重要作用。端粒的相关研究主要集中在肿瘤、遗传性疾病等领域,但越来越多的研究认为端粒与自身免疫性疾病的发病同样有着密切的关系。通过对端粒的研究可能对自身免疫性疾病的发病和治疗等提供新的方向。

Telomeres are specialized structures at the ends of chromosomes in eukaryotic ceils that play an important role in chromosomes maintenance. Their dysfunctions lead to chromosomes recombination, fusion and degradation. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein which maintains telomere length. Their deficiency leads to shortening of telomere lengths and loss of telomere stability. Telomeric proteins consist of telomerebinding protein and telomere-associated protein, they are involved in regulating telomere length and safeguarding telomere structure and function. Researches about telomere are mainly involved in aging, oncology and genetic diseases. Recently, more and more studies suggest that telomere is closely related to autoimmune diseases. Studies of telomere may be an attractive strategy for mechanism and the treatment of autoimmune disease.