The Catalytic Subunit of Telomerase Protects Neurons Against Amyloid β‐Peptide‐Induced Apoptosis

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2000.0750117.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-12T06:46:09Z
• Authors: Haiyan Zhu; Weiming Fu; Mark P. Mattson
• Keywords: Amyloid beta; Amyloid (mycology)

The catalytic subunit of telomerase (TERT) is a specialized reverse transcriptase that has been associated with cell immortalization and cancer. It was reported recently TERT expressed in neurons throughout the brain embryonic early postnatal development, but absent from adult brain. We now report suppression levels function mouse hippocampal culture using antisense technology inhibitor 3' -azido-2' -dideoxythymidine significantly increases their vulnerability to death induced by amyloid beta-peptide, neurotoxic protein believed promote neuronal degeneration Alzheimer's disease. Neurons which were reduced exhibited increased oxidative stress mitochondrial dysfunction following exposure beta-peptide. Overexpression pheochromocytoma cells resulted decreased beta-peptide-induced apoptosis. Our findings demonstrate neuroprotective an experimental model relevant disease, suggest possibility restoration expression may protect against age-related neurodegeneration.