Journal
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GERONTOLOGIE UND GERIATRIE
Volume 40, Issue 5, Pages 314-324Publisher
DR DIETRICH STEINKOPFF VERLAG
DOI: 10.1007/s00391-007-0480-0
Keywords
telomeres; ageing; cancer; chronic disease; replicative senescence
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Telomeres form the ends of human chromosomes. Telomeres shorten with each round of cell division and this mechanism limits proliferation of human cells to a finite number of cell divisions by inducing replicative senescence, differentiation, or apoptosis. Telomere shortening can act as a tumor suppressor. However, as a downside, there is growing evidence indicating that telomere shortening also limits stem cell function, regeneration, and organ maintenance during ageing. Moreover, telomere shortening during ageing and disease is associated with increasing cancer risk. In this review we summarize our current knowledge on the role of telomere shortening in human ageing, chronic diseases, and cancer.
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