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Telomerase activity in normal leukocytes and in hematologic malignancies.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Counter, CM; Gupta, J; Harley, CB; Leber, B; Bacchetti, S
Published in: Blood
May 1, 1995

Telomeres are essential for function and stability of eukaryotic chromosomes. In the absence of telomerase, the enzyme that synthesizes telomeric DNA, telomeres shorten with cell division, a process thought to contribute to cell senescence and the proliferative crisis of transformed cells. We reported telomere stabilization concomitant with detection of telomerase activity in cells immortalized in vitro and in ovarian carcinoma cells, and suggested that telomerase is essential for unlimited cell proliferation. We have now examined the temporal pattern of telomerase expression in selected hematologic malignancies. We found that, unlike other somatic tissues, peripheral, cord blood, and bone marrow leukocytes from normal donors expressed low levels of telomerase activity. In leukocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients, activity was lower than in controls in early disease, and comparable with controls in late disease. Relative to bone marrow, telomerase activity was enhanced in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and more significantly so in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Regardless of telomerase levels, telomeres shortened with progression of the diseases. Our results suggest that early CLL and MDS cells lack an efficient mechanism of telomere maintenance and that telomerase is activated late in the progression of these cancers, presumably when critical telomere loss generates selective pressure for cell immortality.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Blood

ISSN

0006-4971

Publication Date

May 1, 1995

Volume

85

Issue

9

Start / End Page

2315 / 2320

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Telomere
  • Skin
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Models, Biological
  • Middle Aged
  • Leukocytes
  • Leukemia, Myeloid
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell
 

Citation

APA
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MLA
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Counter, C. M., Gupta, J., Harley, C. B., Leber, B., & Bacchetti, S. (1995). Telomerase activity in normal leukocytes and in hematologic malignancies. Blood, 85(9), 2315–2320.
Counter, C. M., J. Gupta, C. B. Harley, B. Leber, and S. Bacchetti. “Telomerase activity in normal leukocytes and in hematologic malignancies.Blood 85, no. 9 (May 1, 1995): 2315–20.
Counter CM, Gupta J, Harley CB, Leber B, Bacchetti S. Telomerase activity in normal leukocytes and in hematologic malignancies. Blood. 1995 May 1;85(9):2315–20.
Counter, C. M., et al. “Telomerase activity in normal leukocytes and in hematologic malignancies.Blood, vol. 85, no. 9, May 1995, pp. 2315–20.
Counter CM, Gupta J, Harley CB, Leber B, Bacchetti S. Telomerase activity in normal leukocytes and in hematologic malignancies. Blood. 1995 May 1;85(9):2315–2320.

Published In

Blood

ISSN

0006-4971

Publication Date

May 1, 1995

Volume

85

Issue

9

Start / End Page

2315 / 2320

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Telomere
  • Skin
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Models, Biological
  • Middle Aged
  • Leukocytes
  • Leukemia, Myeloid
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell