Open Access

Telomerase activity in pregnancy complications (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Persefoni Fragkiadaki
    • Dimitrios Tsoukalas
    • Irini Fragkiadoulaki
    • Christos Psycharakis
    • Dragana Nikitovic
    • Demetrios A. Spandidos
    • Aristides M. Tsatsakis
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 9, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2016.5231
  • Pages: 16-21
  • Copyright: © Fragkiadaki et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Telomeres are specific DNA regions positioned at the ends of chromosomes and composed of functional non-coding repeats. Upon cell division, the telomeres decrease in length by a preordained amount. When the telomeres become critically short, cells lose the ability to divide and enter a specific functioning mode designated as ‘cellular senescence’. However, human tissues express an enzyme that deters the shrinking of the telomeres, the telomerase. Due to its ability to maintain telomere length, the telomerase slows down and possibly suspends the aging of the cells. In regard to this, solid evidence demonstrates that female human fertility decreases with increased maternal age and that various adverse factors, including alterations in telomerase activity, can contribute to age-associated infertility in women. The fact that telomerase activity is regulated in a time- and location-dependent manner in both embryo and placental tissues, highlights it potential importance to the successful completion of pregnancy. Since maternal age is a crucial determining factor for the success of in vitro and in vivo fertilization, numerous studies have focused on telomerase activity and its correlation with mammalian fertilization, as well as the following cleavage and pre-implantation developmental processes. Associations between telomerase activity and pregnancy complications have been previously observed. Our aim in this review was to summarize and critically discuss evidence correlating telomerase activity with pregnancy complications.
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

July-2016
Volume 14 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Fragkiadaki P, Tsoukalas D, Fragkiadoulaki I, Psycharakis C, Nikitovic D, Spandidos DA and Tsatsakis AM: Telomerase activity in pregnancy complications (Review). Mol Med Rep 14: 16-21, 2016.
APA
Fragkiadaki, P., Tsoukalas, D., Fragkiadoulaki, I., Psycharakis, C., Nikitovic, D., Spandidos, D.A., & Tsatsakis, A.M. (2016). Telomerase activity in pregnancy complications (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 14, 16-21. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2016.5231
MLA
Fragkiadaki, P., Tsoukalas, D., Fragkiadoulaki, I., Psycharakis, C., Nikitovic, D., Spandidos, D. A., Tsatsakis, A. M."Telomerase activity in pregnancy complications (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 14.1 (2016): 16-21.
Chicago
Fragkiadaki, P., Tsoukalas, D., Fragkiadoulaki, I., Psycharakis, C., Nikitovic, D., Spandidos, D. A., Tsatsakis, A. M."Telomerase activity in pregnancy complications (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 14, no. 1 (2016): 16-21. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2016.5231