Quantitative telomerase activity in circulating human leukocytes: utility of real-time telomeric repeats amplification protocol (RQ-TRAP) in a clinical/epidemiological setting
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is accumulating evidence from the epidemiological field of telomere biology that telomere length plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. The RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, telomerase, is essential in regulating telomere length by acting as a reverse transcriptase. However, the relationship between telomerase activity and telomere length in cardiovascular disease is unclear. This is due, in part, to the paucity of information on the utility of a quantitative and routine assay for the determination of telomerase activity in circulating blood leukocytes. METHODS: We used a validated, high-sensitive real-time quantitative telomeric repeat amplification protocol (RQ-TRAP) to determine telomerase activity in circulating blood leukocytes. RESULTS: The present investigation demonstrated direct and reliable detection of telomerase activity of circulating blood leukocytes. CONCLUSION: The present investigation suggests the feasibility of using RQ-TRAP assay in routine screening of telomerase activity in blood specimens typically collected in a clinical/epidemiological setting.
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2158367151