Telomeres shorten with aging causing DNA damage and reducing lifespan Biology Diagrams Telomere shortening is most pronounced during bone marrow resection, as it has been observed that there is an inverse correlation between the number of transplanted mononuclear cells and the degree of telomere shortening. A bone marrow transplant results in a telomere shortening equivalent to a period of 15 years of life .
Eventually, telomeres become so stubby that they no longer provide protection, and cells lose the ability to function. But dwarf lemurs have a way of keeping their telomeres from shortening and even making them longer, effectively rejuvenating their cells, at least for a while, according to a study published in the journal Biology Letters.
Telomere shortening and ageing Biology Diagrams
Telomerase, the enzyme that reduces telomere shortening in certain cells, is reactivated or increased in more than 90 percent of cancers, found a 2016 study. Remember, this enzyme isn't found in Persistent low-grade inflammation, common in aging and autoimmune conditions, accelerates telomere shortening by increasing cell turnover and exposure to damaging byproducts. The concept of "inflammaging," describing the chronic pro-inflammatory state associated with aging, explains how sustained immune activation depletes telomeres.
Aging is a biological process characterized by a progressive functional decline in tissues and organs, which eventually leads to mortality. Telomeres, the repetitive DNA repeat sequences at the end of linear eukaryotic chromosomes protecting chromosome ends from degradation and illegitimate recombination, play a crucial role in cell fate and aging. Each time a cell divides, 25-200 base pairs are lost from the terminal sequence of chromosomes. By becoming truncated during cell division, telomeres protect essential genes from being shortened and thus inactivated. In addition, telomeres are sensitive to inflammation and oxidative stress, which can further promote telomere shortening. Telomere shortening occurs with cell division and limits replicative capacity of cells, also known as replicative senescence. Senescent cells accumulate with age and in age-related diseases, and are associated with loss of tissue function with aging.
Telomere and its role in the aging pathways: telomere shortening, cell ... Biology Diagrams
Telomere dysfunction during ageing. As replicative cellular senescence is caused by telomere shortening below a critical length 1, the effect of telomere shortening on organismal ageing in animal
