Different levels of hypoxia regulate telomere length and telomerase activity (original) (raw)

Abstract

This study was designed to identify changes in telomere length and telomerase activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to various levels of hypoxia. Mild hypoxia (10%, 15% oxygen) increased telomere length, which did not appear to change under severe hypoxia (1% oxygen). Telomerase activity in HUVECs correlated inversely with oxygen concentration. Endothelial cell telomere elongation with telomerase activation in conditions of mild hypoxia was demonstrated in this study. High telomerase activity may contribute to hypoxia- related telomere elongation. The best cell growth and longest telomere length were observed at 10%O2, and this percentage may therefore be the optimal level for maintaining vascular endothelial cells. In addition, elevated telomerase activity maintains telomere length within normal range in conditions of severe hypoxia (1%O2). The telomere length distribution in HUVECs under hypoxia seems to be regulated by a balance between telomere attrition by hypoxia and telomere elongation by enhanced telomerase activity acting on telomeres, perhaps in a telomere-length dependent manner.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 309th Hospital of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Beijing, China
    Jing-Zhi Guan
  2. 301th Hospital of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Beijing, China
    Wei-Ping Guan
  3. Division of Molecular and Clinical Gerontology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Beppu, Oita, Japan
    Toyoki Maeda MD, PhD & Naoki Makino
  4. The Department of Cardiovascular and Geriatric Medicine, Kyushu University Beppu Hospital, Beppu, Oita, 874-0838, Japan
    Toyoki Maeda MD, PhD

Authors

  1. Jing-Zhi Guan
  2. Wei-Ping Guan
  3. Toyoki Maeda MD, PhD
  4. Naoki Makino

Corresponding author

Correspondence toToyoki Maeda MD, PhD.

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The first three authors equally contributed to this article

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Guan, JZ., Guan, WP., Maeda, T. et al. Different levels of hypoxia regulate telomere length and telomerase activity.Aging Clin Exp Res 24, 213–217 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325250

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