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Review
. 2016 Jun 17;7(6):29.
doi: 10.3390/genes7060029.

Role of Telomerase in the Cardiovascular System

Mark Zurek  1 , Joachim Altschmied  2 , Stefanie Kohlgrüber  3 , Niloofar Ale-Agha  4 , Judith Haendeler  5   6
Affiliations
Review

Role of Telomerase in the Cardiovascular System

Mark Zurek et al. Genes (Basel). .

Abstract

Aging is one major risk factor for the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and the development of atherosclerosis. One important enzyme known to be involved in aging processes is Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT). After the discovery of the enzyme in humans, TERT had initially only been attributed to germ line cells, stem cells and cancer cells. However, over the last few years it has become clear that TERT is also active in cells of the cardiovascular system including cardiac myocytes, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. Interference with the activity of this enzyme greatly contributes to cardiovascular diseases. This review will summarize the findings on the role of TERT in cardiovascular cells. Moreover, recent findings concerning TERT in different mouse models with respect to cardiovascular diseases will be described. Finally, the extranuclear functions of TERT will be covered within this review.

Keywords: Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase; aging; cardiovascular cells.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Regulation and functions of TERT in the heart. (A) TERT is present in cardiac myocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblasts of the adult heart. Heart injury as well as physical exercise increase TERT expression and Telomerase activity; (B) TERT deficiency completely blunts the protective effects of voluntary running in the heart. Increasing TERT levels in the heart using transgenic or viral approaches improves cardiac outcome and significantly reduces mortality.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Interconnection between TERT and eNOS. TERT and eNOS mutually reinforce their activities in the endothelium. One common upstream regulator is Akt1. Statins, Angiotensin 1-7 (Ang1-7) and pioglitazone increase not only NO production, but also Telomerase activity.
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