Telomere-related gene mutations and lung diseases: Pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema and lung cancer

In this review, we will approach the role of the regulation of telomere length and telomerase activity in different lung diseases. Telomeres are nucleo-protein structures located at the end of chromosomes that protect them from degradation. In the absence of telomerase activity, telomeres are shorte...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sastre, Leandro, Molina-Molina, María, Perona Abellón, Rosario
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/189014
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/189014
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Emphysema
Lung cancer
Pulmonary fibrosis
Senescence
Telomerase
Descripción
Sumario:In this review, we will approach the role of the regulation of telomere length and telomerase activity in different lung diseases. Telomeres are nucleo-protein structures located at the end of chromosomes that protect them from degradation. In the absence of telomerase activity, telomeres are shortened after each round of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication. When a critical size is reached, there is an induction in cell apoptosis or senescence. Telomere replication is also involved in the acquisition of the unlimited proliferative capacity that characterises tumour cells. Several diseases of lung tissue are associated either with a deficit or overactivation of telomerase activity. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is associated with germinal mutations in telomerase-genes resulting in premature senescence of lung tissue accelerating the onset of the disease. Somatic mutations or polymorphisms in telomere reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter have also been associated with upregulation of telomerase activity and lung cancer.