Longevity, stress response, and cancer in aging telomerase-deficient mice.

Authors: Rudolph KL; Chang S; Lee HW; Blasco M; Gottlieb GJ; Greider C; DePinho RA

Abstract: Telomere maintenance is thought to play a role in signaling cellular senescence; however, a link with organismal aging processes has not been established. The telomerase null mouse provides an opportunity to understand the effects associated with critical telomere shortening at the organismal level. We studied a variety of physiological processes in an aging cohort of mTR-/- mice. Loss of telomere function did not elicit a full spectrum of classical pathophysiological symptoms of aging. However, age-dependent telomere shortening and accompanying genetic instability were associated with shortened life span as well as a reduced capacity to respond to stresses such as wound healing and hematopoietic ablation. In addition, we found an increased incidence of spontaneous malignancies. These findings demonstrate a critical role for telomere length in the overall fitness, reserve, and well being of the aging organism.

Keywords: Aging/genetics/*physiology; Alopecia/etiology; Animals; Body Weight; Bone Marrow Diseases/chemically induced/physiopathology; Fluorouracil/toxicity; Hair Color/genetics; Longevity/*physiology; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Neoplasms, Experimental/enzymology/*etiology/genetics; Skin/injuries/pathology; Stress, Physiological/enzymology/*physiopathology; Telomerase/*deficiency/genetics/physiology; Telomere/ultrastructure; Wound Healing
Journal: Cell
Volume: 96
Issue: 5
Pages: 701-12
Date: March 25, 1999
PMID: 10089885
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Citation:

Rudolph KL, Chang S, Lee HW, Blasco M, Gottlieb GJ, Greider C, DePinho RA (1999) Longevity, stress response, and cancer in aging telomerase-deficient mice. Cell 96: 701-12.


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