端粒(酶)对衰老及肿瘤的调节研究进展

Systemic review of telomeres(enzyme) on regulating aging and cancer

端粒位于真核细胞染色体末端,是细胞维持染色体稳定的重要成分,端粒长度会随染色体的不完全复制而逐渐缩短。过短的端粒无法维持基因组的稳定性,最终导致细胞老化、机体衰老。端粒酶由RNA和蛋白质组成,可维持端粒长度,端粒酶活性降低则端粒缩短,因此端粒酶的激活和端粒长度的维持是人肿瘤细胞所必需的条件。细胞损伤造成衰老与肿瘤,衰老与肿瘤相互调控,衰老可作为抑制肿瘤的天然屏障。肿瘤的增殖机制可成为对抗衰老的重要手段,端粒及端粒酶在两者的平衡中发挥作用。该文就端粒和端粒酶、端粒和端粒酶与衰老的关系及在肿瘤发生、发展中的调控机制进行综述,探讨通过调控端粒及端粒酶活性来调节衰老与肿瘤的平衡,为治疗疾病提供指导。

Telomere is located at the end of chromosome and is closely related to chromosome stability ineukaryotic cell. The length of telomeres gradually decreases along with chromosome replication. Cell with overshortened telomeres ultimately end up with death.Telomerase is composed of RNA and protein and maintainstelomere length. Compromised telomerase activity leads to decrease of telomere. Therefore, The activation oftelomerase and length maintaining of telomereis were necessary for human tumor cells. Mutual regulation of agingand cancer is important since aging caused by telomere induced cell death, which may be a natural barrier for cancer.The authorsperform a systemic review on telomere and telomerase. We try to elucidate the relationship betweenaging and telomere and regulatory mechanism of telomerase in tumor development, eventually provide guidelines for disease treating.