The Role of Telomere and Telomerase in Female Reproductive Health

doi:10.12280/gjszjk.20220507

Abstract

Abstract:

Telomeres are the DNA-protein complexes that maintain chromosomal length by forming a protective cap at the end of chromosome, which means that the length of telomere determines the cell life. Telomerase plays an important role in resisting cell replicative senescence as a ribonucleoprotein complex that maintains telomere length and integrity. Many studies have shown that the dysfunction of telomere and telomerase affects the biological behavior of cells, including cell cycle stability, cell proliferation, apoptosis and senescence. In recent years, researchers have paid attention to the relationship between telomere, telomerase and female reproduction. It has been found that the telomere lengths in granulosa cells and leukocytes were often be shorten and the telomerase activities were often decreased in different pathological conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, recurrent abortion and cervical cancer. This article reviews the functional characteristics of telomere and telomerase, and the research progress in the field of reproduction, which may provide guidance for the treatment of some female reproductive system diseases.

Key words: Telomere, Telomerase, Ovarian failure, premature, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Endometriosis

ZHANG An-ni, WEI Lin-fei, LI Ning, ZHOU Xin-yue, ZHANG Xue-hong. The Role of Telomere and Telomerase in Female Reproductive Health[J]. Journal of International Reproductive Health/Family Planning, 2023, 42(2): 145-149.

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