Human T Cell Differentiation Negatively Regulates Telomerase Expression Resulting in Reduced Activation-Induced Proliferation and Survival.

ABSTRACT: Maintenance of telomeres is essential for preserving T cell proliferative responses yet the precise role of telomerase in human T cell differentiation, function, and aging is not fully understood. Here we analyzed human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression and telomerase activity in six T cell subsets from 111 human adults and found that levels of hTERT mRNA and telomerase activity had an ordered decrease from naïve (T_N) to central memory (T_CM) to effector memory (T_EM) cells and were higher in CD4⁺ than their corresponding CD8⁺ subsets. This differentiation-related reduction of hTERT mRNA and telomerase activity was preserved after activation. Furthermore, the levels of hTERT mRNA and telomerase activity were positively

SUBMITTER: Patrick MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6712505 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature