Telomeres and Telomerase in Aging, Disease, and Cancer

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

   PDF

2. Telomere Shortening and Ageing

   1. Cellular versus Organismal Aging

      • Andrew Dillin, Jan Karlseder

      Pages 3-22

   2. Telomere-Induced Senescence of Primary Cells

      • Richard Allsopp

      Pages 23-42

   3. Telomeres, Senescence, Oxidative Stress, and Heterogeneity

      • João F. Passos, Glyn Nelson, Thomas von Zglinicki

      Pages 43-56

   4. Initiation of Genomic Instability, Cellular Senescence, and Organismal Aging by Dysfunctional Telomeres

      • Sandy Chang

      Pages 57-75

   5. Telomerase Mutations and Premature Ageing in Humans

      • Hong-Yan Du, Monica Bessler, Philip J. Mason

      Pages 77-107

3. Telomerase, Telomeres, and Stem Cell Aging

   1. Mechanisms of Stem Cell Ageing

      • Amanda Waterstrat, Erin Oakley, Alison Miller, Carol Swiderski, Ying Liang, Gary Van Zant

      Pages 111-140

   2. Senescence Signatures of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells

      • Stefan Zimmermann, Uwe M. Martens

      Pages 141-159

   3. Telomere Shortening Induces Cell Intrinsic Checkpoints and Environmental Alterations Limiting Adult Stem Cell Function

      • Luis Guachalla Gutierrez, Zhenyu Ju

      Pages 161-180

   4. p16INK4a and Stem Cell Ageing: A Telomere-Independent Process?

      • Norman E. Sharpless

      Pages 181-202

   5. Telomerase as a Potential Regulator of Tissue Progenitor Cells

      • Steven E. Artandi

      Pages 203-210

4. Telomeres, DNA Damage and Cancer

   1. Telomere Shortening and Telomerase Activation during Cancer Formation

      • K. Lenhard Rudolph

      Pages 213-228

   2. Telomere Binding Proteins and Disease

      • Maria A. Blasco

      Pages 229-244

5. Therapeutic Targets

   1. Targeting Telomerase: Therapeutic Options for Cancer Treatment

      • W. Nicol Keith, Alan E. Bilsland

      Pages 247-283

   2. Werner Syndrome, Telomeres, and Stress Signaling: Implications for Future Therapies?

      • Terence Davis, David Kipling

      Pages 285-308

6. Back Matter

   Pages 309-328

   PDF

Twenty-five years after the disclosure of the telomeric DNA sequence and 22 years after the discovery of telomerase, it has become clear that telomeres and telomerase influence disease of human ageing including cancer. This book summarizes our current knowledge on the role of telomeres and telomerase in ageing, regeneration, and cancer with a special focus on ageing stem cells. Moreover, the book reviews current ef forts to target telomeres and telomerase for anticancer treatment or reg- erative therapies. 1. 1 Ageing The molecular analysis of ageing is an emerging research field that will have great impact on patients care, lifestyle, and on disease prevention in the human population worldwide. Major molecular mechanisms that influence the ageing process include (1) the accumulation of molecular damage affecting DNA and p- teins, (2) alterations in gene expression, including alterations in checkpoint responses, metabolic pathways, and developmental pathways, and (3) the decline in adult stem cell function. All these mechanisms lead to a decrease in organ main- nance and function, thus representing a major factor limiting the quality of life d- ing ageing. Moreover, the accumulation of molecular damage increases genetic alterations and the cancer risk during ageing. Indeed, increased age is the leading cause of cancer. Understanding the molecular basis of ageing will ultimately point to targets for novel therapies aiming to improve the function of cells and organs in the ageing organism, thus allowing increased vitality or what we think of as “healthy ageing.

• Ageing
• DNA
• Telomere
• aging
• apoptosis
• cancer
• cell
• cell lines
• development
• influence
• molecular mechanisms
• proliferation
• senescence
• stem cell
• stem cells

• University of Ulm, Germany

  K. Lenhard Rudolph

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