精神分裂症与端粒的研究进展

Research progress of schizophrenia and telomeres

端粒是存在于真核细胞染色体末端的特殊结构,具有维持染色体完整性和稳定性的重要作用。近年来,端粒常被用来作为整个生物体衰老的标志,且端粒功能障碍与精神分裂症发病相关。有研究显示,精神分裂症患者较健康人白细胞端粒长度缩短,端粒酶活性下降,且已有研究者发现了与精神分裂症相关的端粒酶基因。本文就精神分裂症与端粒长度、端粒酶活性及端粒酶基因的关联研究进行综述,以探讨相关的遗传病理机制。

Telomeres are special structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes,which play important parts in maintaining the integrity and stability of chromosomes.In recent years,telomere is often used as a marker of aging in the whole organism,and telomere dysfunction has been found to be associated with the development of schizophrenia.It has been reported that compared with healthy people,patients with schizophrenia have shorter telomere length and lower telomerase activity,and some studies have found that telomerase genes are associated with schizophrenia.This article reviews the studies on the relationship between schizophrenia and telomere length,telomerase activity and telomerase gene,in order to explore the genetic and pathological mechanism of the disease.