Vol 63, No 1 (2004)
Short communication
Published online: 2003-12-03
The activity of human telomerase in the cells of acute leukaemias
Folia Morphol 2004;63(1):127-128.
Abstract
Telomeres are the end fragments of chromosomes formed by a number of
non-coding double-stranded TTAGGG repeats in vertebrates. During cell division
the number of repeats decreases, leading to cell senescence or apoptosis.
In immortal cells, including cancer cells, the telomere length is stable and maintained
by, among other factors, telomerase. The aim of the study is to compare
telomerase activity in normal lymphocytes and in leukaemic cells. Samples
of acute leukaemia cells, HL 60 cell line and the lymphocytes of healthy
volunteers were examined. Telomerase analysis was performed using TeloTAGGG
Telomerase PCR ELISAplus (Roche). The relative telomerase activities (RTA)
in leukaemic and normal cells were analysed. A high level of RTA was observed
in leukaemic cells.
Keywords: telomerestelomerasehuman acute leukaemia cells
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