• Toxicological Research
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.161-172
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• 2003

Explanted mammalian cells perform a limited number of cell division in vitro and than are arrested in a state known as replicative senescence. Such cells are irreversibly blocked, mostly in the G1 phase of cell cycle, and are no longer sensitive to growth factor stimulation. Thus replicative senescence is defined as a permanent and irreversible loss of replicative potential of cells. For this characteristic, replicative senescence seems to evolve to protect mammalian organism from cancer. However, senescence also contributes to aging. It seems to decrease with age of the cell donor and, as a form of cell senescence, is thought to underlie the aging process. Extensive evidence supports the idea that progressive telomere loss contributes to the phenomenon of cell senescence. Telomeres are repetitive structures of the sequence (TTAGGG)n at the ends of linear chromosomes. It has been shown that the average length of telomere repeats in human somatic cells decreases by 30∼200 bp with each cell division. It is generally believed that when telomeres reach a critical length, a signal is activated to initiate the senescent program. This has given rise to the hypothesis that telomeres act as mitotic clocks to regulate lifespan. One proposes that cumulative oxidative stress, mainly reactive oxygen species generated from mitochondria, may mainly cause telomere shortening, accelerating aging. Here, the biological importance and mechanism of replicative senescence were briefly reviewed. Also it was summarized that how oxidative stress affects replicative senescence and telomere shortening.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.603-609
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• 2011

Telomeres are special structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Vertebrate telomeres consist of tandem repeats of conserved TTAGGG sequence and associated proteins. Birds are interesting models for molecular studies on aging and cellular senescence because of their slow aging rates and longer life spans for their body size. In this longitudinal study, we explored the possibility of using telomeres as an age-marker to predict age in Single Comb White Leghorn layer chickens. We quantified the relative amount of telomeric DNA in isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes by the Quantitative Fluorescence in situ Hybridization technique on interphase nuclei (IQ FISH) using telomere-specific DNA probes. We found that the amount of telomeric DNA (ATD) reduced significantly with an increase in chronological age of the chicken. Especially, the telomere shortening rates are greatly increased in growing individuals compared to laying and old-aged individuals. Therefore, using the ATD values obtained by IQ FISH we established the possibility of age prediction in chickens based on the telomere theory of aging. By regression analysis of the ATD values at each age interval, we formulated an equation to predict the age of chickens. In conclusion, the telomeric DNA values by IQ FISH analyses can be used as an effective age-marker in predicting the chronological age of chickens. The study has implications in the breeding and population genetics of poultry, especially the reproductive potential.

• 대한화장품학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한화장품학회 2003년도 IFSCC Conference Proceeding Book I
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• pp.73-84
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• 2003

Skin aging process on pre-menopausal women is a problem that needs to be prevented as early as possible. The decrease of oestrogen level which is one of the intrinsic factors of the skin aging process will affect the skin biological process, due to oestrogen receptors on the skin. A number of researches conducted on pre-menopausal women with the allocation of oestrogen hormone resulted in delaying the skin aging process. The administration of soy isoflavon, a phytoestrogen found in daily food, on pre-menopausal women is hoped to be able to prevent skin aging process, even clinically or molecular biologically. This research aims to explain the benefit of administering of soy isoflavon on skin aging process. The design of the research is randomised controlled trial (RCT). As many as 60 pre-menopausal women were collected with simple random sampling method. Soy isoflavon is an independent variable, while skin aging process is a dependent variable assessed from the hydration, sebum level, average roughness, depth of wrinkles, skin clarity, length of the telomere. Analysis was conducted using t and MANDVA tests and.the result showed a significance (F = 10,439; p = 0,001) over the allocation of soy isoflavon to the whole variable dependent, including the telomere length and the skin hydration, meant that allocation of soy isoflavon could delay skin aging process.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.334-339
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Telomere length is a useful biomarker for determining general aging status. Some studies have reported an association between alcohol consumption and telomere length in a general population; however, it is unclear whether the alcohol flush reaction, which is an alcohol-related trait predominantly due to acetaldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, is associated with telomere length. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the associations of alcohol consumption and alcohol flush reaction with leukocyte telomere length (LTL). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study included 1,803 Korean adults. Participants provided blood specimens for LTL measurement assay and reported their alcohol drinking status and the presence of an alcohol flush reaction via a questionnaire-based interview. Relative LTL was determined by using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis used multiple linear regression models stratified by sex and age groups, and potential confounding factors were considered. RESULTS: Age-specific analyses showed that heavy alcohol consumption (> 30 g/day) was strongly associated with a reduced LTL in participants aged ${\geq}65years$ (P < 0.001) but not in younger participants. Similarly, the alcohol flush reaction was associated with a reduced LTL only in older participants who consumed > 15 g/day of alcohol (P < 0.01). No significant alcohol consumption or alcohol flush reaction associations with LTL were observed in the sex-specific analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that older alcohol drinkers, particularly those with the alcohol flush reaction, may have an accelerated aging process.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.297-302
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• 2005

The integrity and proper functioning of telomeres require association of telomeric DNA sequences with specific binding proteins. We have characterized PLP-1, a $PUR{\alpha}$ homolog encoded by F45E4.2, which we previously identified as a candidate double stranded telomere binding protein, by affinity chromatography followed by mass spectrometry. PLP-1 bound double-stranded telomeric DNA in vitro as shown by competition assays. Core binding was provided by the third and fourth nucleotides of the TTAGGC telomeric repeat. This is quite different from the binding sequence of CEH-37, another C. elegans telomere binding protein, suggesting that multiple proteins may bind nematode telomeric DNA simultaneously in vivo.

• 한국가금학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국가금학회 2004년도 제21차 정기총회 및 학술발표회
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• pp.16-18
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• 2004

본 연구는 닭의 여러 조직별 세포들의 telomere 함유율과 telomerase 활성도를 분석 제시하고자 하였다. 한국재래계의 수정란 및 발생단계별 신생 조직과 출생 후 성장단계별 각 조직들에 대한 telomere의 함량과 telomerase 활성도를 분석하였고, 초기배자, 간, 뇌, 신장, 심장, 생식선 조직 및 백혈구 세포를 분석대상으로 하였다. Telomere의 함량 분석은 chicken telomeric DNA probe를 이용한 Q-FISH법으로 수행하였고, telomerase activity의 분석은 TRAP법을 이용하였다. 분석결과 초기 배자, 생식선 세포 및 신장세포에서는 지속적으로 매우 높은 telomerase activity를 나타내었으나 뇌, 심장, 간 등에서는 발생 및 발육이 진행됨에 따라 유의적 감소 양상을 보였다. 닭의 각 조직별 telomere의 함량 분석결과, 대부분의 세포들이 성장이 진행됨에 따라 telomere 함유율이 감소되는 양상을 보였다. 이상의 결과로부터 telomerase의 활성도와 telomere의 함량간에 매우 밀접한 연관성을 보이며. 이들이 닭 조직별 세포의 분화 및 증식성 특이성과도 밀접한 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났다.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.150-153
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• 2002

Solar UV light is a well-known carcinogen. UVA radiation is probably carcinogenic to humans. In addition, recent investigations point to the importance of UVA irradiation in the photoaging. We investigated the mechanism of sequence- specific DNA damage using $\^$32/P-Iabeled DNA fragments in relation to carcinogenesis and aging. Furthermore, we investigated whether UVA accelerates the telomere shortening in human WI-38 fibroblasts. The exposure of double- stranded DNA fragments to 365 nm light in the presence of endogenous sensitizers produced sequence-specific cleavage at the 5' site of 5'-GG-3' and 5'-GGG-3' sequences. In addition, HPLC analysis revealed that sensitizers plus 365 nm light increased the 8-oxodG content of double-stranded DNA. We discuss the mechanisms of guanine-specific DNA damagecaused by excited photosensitizers in relation to carcinogenesis and aging.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.8-14
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• 2014

Telomerase plays a pivotal role in the pathology of aging and cancer by maintaining genome integrity, controlling cell proliferation, and regulating tissue homeostasis. Telomerase is essentially composed of an RNA component, Telomerase RNA or TERC, which serves as a template for telomeric DNA synthesis, and a catalytic subunit, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). The canonical function of TERT is the synthesis of telomeric DNA repeats, and the maintenance of telomere length. However, accumulating evidence indicates that TERT may also have some fundamental functions that are independent of its enzymatic activity. Among these telomere-independent activities of hTERT, the role of hTERT in gene transcription has been investigated in detail. Transcriptional regulation is a fundamental process in biological systems. Several studies have shown a direct involvement of hTERT in gene transcription. This mini-review will focus on the role of hTERT in gene transcription regulation, and discuss its possible mechanisms.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제84권3호
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• pp.188-199
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• 2021

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic respiratory disease with increased prevalence in the elderly. Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosome, which progressively shorten as cells divide. Telomere length is known to be a molecular marker of aging. This study aimed to assess the relationship between telomere length and the risk of COPD, lung function, respiratory symptoms, and emphysema index in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Dusty Areas (CODA) cohort. Methods: We extracted DNA from the peripheral blood samples of 446 participants, including 285 COPD patients and 161 control participants. We measured absolute telomere length using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. All participants underwent spirometry and quantitative computed tomography scan. Questionnaires assessing respiratory symptoms and the COPD Assessment Test was filled by all the participants. Results: The mean age of participants at the baseline visit was 72.5±7.1 years. Males accounted for 72% (321 participants) of the all participants. The mean telomere length was lower in the COPD group compared to the non-COPD group (COPD, 16.81±13.90 kb; non-COPD, 21.97±14.43 kb). In COPD patients, 112 (75.7%) were distributed as tertile 1 (shortest), 91 (61.1%) as tertile 2 and 82 (55%) as tertile 3 (longest). We did not find significant associations between telomere length and lung function, exacerbation, airway wall thickness, and emphysema index after adjusting for sex, age, and smoking status. Conclusion: In this study, the relationship between various COPD phenotypes and telomere length was analyzed, but no significant statistical associations were shown.

• 한국노년학
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.657-667
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• 2009

본 연구는 규칙적인 유산소 운동이 성장에 따른 세포 복제현상에 미치는 영향을 살펴보기 위하여 염색체 말단에 위치한 텔로미어의 길이와 결합단백질인 TRF 2(telomere repeat binding factor 2)의 발현량을 분석하였다. 흰쥐를 대상으로 장기간 운동집단, 단기간 운동집단, 비교집단 그리고 기준수준 검증을 위한 기준집단의 4집단으로 각각 7마리씩 총28마리를 배정하였으며, 수영 운동은 무부하 자유유영의 형태로 주 5회, 매회 1시간씩 실시하였다. 마지막 운동 종료 후 24시간 뒤 쥐를 희생시켜 심장, 간, 가자미근을 적출하여 genomic DNA를 추출, 텔로미어의 길이와 관련단백질인 TRF 2의 발현량을 분석하였다. 연구 결과, 간조직의 텔로미어 길이와 TRF 2 단백질의 발현량은 집단 간 차이를 발견할 수 없었으나, 심장조직의 텔로미어 길이는 장기간 운동집단이 비교집단 및 단기간 운동집단에 비해 길게 나타났고, TRF 2의 단백질 발현 또한 높게 나타나, 장기간의 수영 운동이 성장에 따른 심장의 텔로미어 단축현상을 지연시키는 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 가자미근에서는 4주령의 기준집단에 비해 비교집단과 단기간 운동집단의 텔로미어의 길이는 유의하게 짧았으나, 장기간 운동집단과는 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않은 것으로 미루어 장기간의 수영 운동이 골격근의 복제적 노화현상도 억제할 수 있는 가능성을 관찰할 수 있었다.