Telomeres and telomerase in adrenocorticcal tissue maintenance, carcinogenesis, and aging

Telomere dysfunction and telomere maintenance mechanisms contribute to major steps of carcinogenesis. Dysfunctional telomeres lead to the generation of genomic aberrations, such as amplificatiom: and deletions. Telomere maintenance mechanisms, such as telomerase activity and alternative telomere lengthening, provide the basis of malignant cell expansion independent of telomere shortening-induced apoptosis or senescence, ensuring tumor survival. Recent advances highlight the importance of these mechanisms in adrenocortical carcinogenEGiS. In this review, we will summarize the main models of telomere physiology and their impact on adrenocortical tissue maintenance, aging, and carcinogenesis. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology (2009) 43, 131-141