Telomere length: lights and shadows on their role in human reproduction.

Telomere length: lights and shadows on their role in human reproduction. Biol Reprod. 2018 Oct 01;: Authors: Rocca MS, Foresta C, Ferlin A Abstract Telomeres are repeated DNA sequences whose main function is to preserve genome stability, protecting chromosomes ends from shortening caused by progressive loss during each cell replication or DNA damage. Telomere length regulation is normally achieved by telomerase enzyme, whose activity is progressively shut off during embryonic differentiation in somatic tissues, whereas it is maintained in germ cells, activated lymphocytes, and certain types of stem cell populations. The maintenance of telomerase activity for a longer time is necessary for germ cells to delay telomere erosion, avoiding thus chromosome segregation defects that could contribute to aneuploid or unbalanced gametes. Over the last few years, telomere biology has become an important topic in the field of human reproduction, encouraging several studies to focus on the relation between telomere length and spermatogenesis and male fertility, embryo development and quality during assisted reproductive treatment, and female pathologies as polycystic ovary, premature ovarian insufficiency and endometriosis. This review analyses whether telomere length in germ cells is related to reproduction fitness, whether telomere length is related to pathologies associated with male and female fertility and whether measurement of telomere leng...
Source: Biology of Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Biol Reprod Source Type: research