Sex-related differences in length and erosion dynamics of human telomeres favor females

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at chromosomal ends contributing to genomic integrity. In somatic cells, telomeres are shortened during DNA reduplication. Thus, telomere erosion has been regarded as a biological clock. Applying the telomere/centromere (T/C)-FISH technique to human peripheral...

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Published in:Aging (Albany, NY.) NY.), 2009-07, Vol.1 (8), p.733-739
Main Authors: Möller, Peter, Mayer, Susanne, Mattfeldt, Torsten, Müller, Kathrin, Wiegand, Peter, Brüderlein, Silke
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - genetics
Aging - metabolism
Child
Female
Humans
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
Infant, Newborn
Lymphocytes - metabolism
Male
Middle Aged
Sex Factors
Telomere - genetics
Telomere - metabolism
Young Adult
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Summary:Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at chromosomal ends contributing to genomic integrity. In somatic cells, telomeres are shortened during DNA reduplication. Thus, telomere erosion has been regarded as a biological clock. Applying the telomere/centromere (T/C)-FISH technique to human peripheral blood lymphocytes, we showed that pangenomically, telomere shortening is linear in centenarians and that this attrition is delayed in females. Statistics reveal a greater skewness in telomere length distribution in females. As the morphological correlate, we find abnormally long telomeres distributed at random. This "erratic extensive elongation" (EEE) of telomeres is a hitherto unrecognized phenomenon in non-neoplastic cells, and females are more successful in this respect. As evidenced by endoreduplication, EEE is transmitted to the cells' progeny. The mechanism involved is likely to be the alternative pathway of telomere elongation (ALT), counteracting erosion and already known to operate in neoplastic cells.
ISSN:1945-4589
1945-4589
DOI:10.18632/aging.100068