Naslov
Telomerase in anti-tumor response

Autori
Batinac, Tanja ; Zamolo, Gordana ; Hadžisejdić, Ita

Izvornik
Medical hypotheses (0306-9877) 68 (2007), 1; 128-130

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
telomerase; anti-tumor response

Sažetak
Telomerase is responsible for maintaining the length of telomeres at the end of chromosomes. It protects chromosomes from degradation and aberrant recombination during replication prolonging the life span of the cell. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is highly expressed in >85% of cancer cells but its expression is repressed in most human somatic cells. It has been shown that expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase greatly extends the life span of both human CD8+ and CD4+ T cells during activation and proliferation. hTERT-positive tumor cells can induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte response as well as T helper response. On the other hand, it is possible that cytotoxic immune response to hTERT-positive tumor cells can cause autoimmune reaction directed against T cells in a tumor bearing host. This could lead to apoptosis and decreased number of activated T cells and insufficient anti-tumor immunity resulting in tumor progression.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA