Olovnikov, Telomeres, and Telomerase. Is It Possible to Prolong a Healthy Life?

The science of telomeres and telomerase has made tremendous progress in recent decades. In this review, we consider it first in a historical context (the Carrel-Hayflick-Olovnikov-Blackburn chain of discoveries) and then review current knowledge on the telomere structure and dynamics in norm and pathology. Central to the review are consequences of the telomere shortening, including telomere position effects, DNA damage signaling, and increased genetic instability.

Tumor Suppressor Properties of Small C-Terminal Domain Phosphatases in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) accounts for 80-90% of kidney cancers worldwide. Small C-terminal domain phosphatases CTDSP1, CTDSP2, and CTDSPL (also known as SCP1, 2, 3) are involved in the regulation of several important pathways associated with carcinogenesis. In various cancer types, these phosphatases may demonstrate either antitumor or oncogenic activity.

Cell specialization in cyanobacterial biofilm development revealed by expression of a cell-surface and extracellular matrix protein.

Cyanobacterial biofilms are ubiquitous and play important roles in diverse environments, yet, understanding of the processes underlying the development of these aggregates is just emerging. Here we report cell specialization in formation of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 biofilms-a hitherto unknown characteristic of cyanobacterial social behavior. We show that only a quarter of the cell population expresses at high levels the four-gene ebfG-operon that is required for biofilm formation.

Mechanisms of Phototoxic Effects of Cationic Porphyrins on Human Cells In Vitro.

The toxic effects of four cationic porphyrins on various human cells were studied in vitro. It was found that, under dark conditions, porphyrins are almost nontoxic, while, under the action of light, the toxic effect was observed starting from nanomolar concentrations. At a concentration of 100 nM, porphyrins caused inhibition of metabolism in the MTT test in normal and cancer cells.

SARS-CoV-2 infection of phagocytic immune cells and COVID-19 pathology: Antibody-dependent as well as independent cell entry.

Our review summarizes the evidence that COVID-19 can be complicated by SARS-CoV-2 infection of immune cells. This evidence is widespread and accumulating at an increasing rate. Research teams from around the world, studying primary and established cell cultures, animal models, and analyzing autopsy material from COVID-19 deceased patients, are seeing the same thing, namely that some immune cells are infected or capable of being infected with the virus.

Special Issue: "Telomerase: Role in Health and Aging".

We would like to introduce the new volume: "Telomerase and Telomeres: Its Role in Health and Aging 2 [...

Transcriptomic and Phenomic Investigations Reveal Elements in Biofilm Repression and Formation in the Cyanobacterium PCC 7942.

Biofilm formation by photosynthetic organisms is a complex behavior that serves multiple functions in the environment. Biofilm formation in the unicellular cyanobacterium PCC 7942 is regulated in part by a set of small secreted proteins that promotes biofilm formation and a self-suppression mechanism that prevents their expression. Little is known about the regulatory and structural components of the biofilms in PCC 7942, or response to the suppressor signal(s).

Somatic Mutations of Hematopoietic Cells Are an Additional Mechanism of Body Aging, Conducive to Comorbidity and Increasing Chronification of Inflammation.

It is known that the development of foci of chronic inflammation usually accompanies body aging. In these foci, senescent cells appear with a pro-inflammatory phenotype that helps maintain inflammation. Their removal with the help of senolytics significantly improves the general condition of the body and, according to many indicators, contributes to rejuvenation.

[Long-Chain Free Fatty Acids Influence Lipid Accumulation, Lysosome Activation and Glycolytic Shift in Various Cells In Vitro].

Hydrophobic molecules may be toxic when present in excess. When dissolved in membranes, hydrophobic molecules disrupt membrane function. Studies on the effects of free fatty acids (FFA) on cultured cells contradict each other.

A Cyanobacterial Component Required for Pilus Biogenesis Affects the Exoproteome.

Protein secretion as well as the assembly of bacterial motility appendages are central processes that substantially contribute to fitness and survival. This study highlights distinctive features of the mechanism that serves these functions in cyanobacteria, which are globally prevalent photosynthetic prokaryotes that significantly contribute to primary production. Our studies of biofilm development in the cyanobacterium uncovered a novel component required for the biofilm self-suppression mechanism that operates in this organism.

Role of Telomeres Shortening in Atherogenesis: An Overview.

It is known that the shortening of the telomeres leads to cell senescence, accompanied by acquiring of pro-inflammatory phenotype. The expression of telomerase can elongate telomeres and resist the onset of senescence. The initiation of atherosclerosis is believed to be associated with local senescence of the endothelial cells of the arteries in places with either low or multidirectional oscillatory wall shear stress.

The Link between Chronic Stress and Accelerated Aging.

People exposed to chronic stress age rapidly. The telomeres in their cells of all types shorten faster. Inflammation is another important feature of stress that, along with aging, accounts for the phenomenon of inflammaging.

[Healthy Aging: Antioxidants, Uncouplers and/or Telomerase?].

The free radical theory of aging was proposed in 1956. Although it does not fully describe the mechanisms of aging, it is generally accepted that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are one of the pathogenetic factors in aging and, in particular, in the development of pathologies associated with aging. The main source of ROS in the cell is mitochondria.

Tumor suppressor properties of the small C-terminal domain phosphatases in non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is responsible for the majority of deaths caused by cancer. Small C-terminal domain (CTD) phosphatases (SCP), CTDSP1, CTDSP2 and CTDSPL (CTDSPs) belong to SCP/CTDSP subfamily and are involved in many vital cellular processes and tumorigenesis. High similarity of their structures suggests similar functions.

[Cytotoxic Effect of Low-Intensity Infrared Laser Irradiation on Human Melanoma Cells].

Continuous low-intensity laser irradiation (LILI) affects the state of cells in culture, including their proliferation rate. Data collected with various cell models vary significantly, but most studies have reported positive effects of LILI on cell proliferation. The effects of continuous infrared LILI (835 nm) was studied using three independent different melanoma cell lines.

Nucleolar stress enhances lytic reactivation of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a human tumorigenic virus exhibiting two forms of infection, latent and lytic. Latent infection is abortive and allows the virus to establish lifelong infection, while lytic infection is productive, and is needed for virus dissemination within the host and between hosts. Latent infection may reactivate and switch towards the lytic cycle.

Exome analysis of carotid body tumor.

Background: Carotid body tumor (CBT) is a form of head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs) arising at the bifurcation of carotid arteries. Paragangliomas are commonly associated with germline and somatic mutations involving at least one of more than thirty causative genes. However, the specific functionality of a number of these genes involved in the formation of paragangliomas has not yet been fully investigated.

Microarray analyzer based on wide field fluorescent microscopy with laser illumination and a device for speckle suppression.

A microarray analyzer was developed to obtain images and measure the fluorescence intensity of microarrays at three wavelengths from 380 nm to 850 nm. The analyzer contains lasers to excite fluorescence, barrier filters, optics to project images on an image detector, and a device for suppressing laser speckles on the microarray support. The speckle suppression device contains a fibre-optic bundle and a rotating mirror positioned in a way to change the distance between the bundle butt and mirror surface during each mirror revolution.

High-Affinity Interactions of Beryllium(2+) with Phosphatidylserine Result in a Cross-Linking Effect Reducing Surface Recognition of the Lipid.

Beryllium has multiple industrial applications, but its manufacture is associated with a serious occupational risk of developing chronic inflammation in the lungs known as berylliosis, or chronic beryllium disease. Although the Be-induced abnormal immune responses have recently been linked to a specific MHC-II allele, the nature of long-lasting granulomas is not fully understood. Here we show that Be binds with a micromolar affinity to phosphatidylserine (PS), the major surface marker of apoptotic cells.

Telomere Attrition in Human Lens Epithelial Cells Associated with Oxidative Stress Provide a New Therapeutic Target for the Treatment, Dissolving and Prevention of Cataract with N-Acetylcarnosine Lubricant Eye Drops. Kinetic, Pharmacological and Activity-Dependent Separation of Therapeutic Targeting: Transcorneal Penetration and Delivery of L-Carnosine in the Aqueous Humor and Hormone-Like Hypothalamic Antiaging Effects of the Instilled Ophthalmic Drug Through a Safe Eye Medication Technique.

Background: Visual impairment broadly impacts the ability of affected people to maintain their function and to remain independent during their daily occupations as they grow older. Visual impairment affects survival of older patients, quality of life, can affect a person's self-ranking of health, may be associated with social and functional decline, use of community support services, depression, falls, nursing home placement, and increased mortality. It has been hypothesized that senile cataract may serve as a marker for generalised tissue aging, since structural changes occurring in the proteins of the lens during cataract formation are similar to those which occur elsewhere as part of the aging process.

Tissue formation and tissue engineering through host cell recruitment or a potential injectable cell-based biocomposite with replicative potential: Molecular mechanisms controlling cellular senescence and the involvement of controlled transient telomerase activation therapies.

Accumulated data indicate that wound-care products should have a composition equivalent to that of the skin: a combination of particular growth factors and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins endogenous to the skin, together with viable epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Strategies consisting of bioengineered dressings and cell-based products have emerged for widespread clinical use; however, their performance is not optimal because chronic wounds persist as a serious unmet medical need. Telomerase, the ribonucleoprotein complex that adds telomeric repeats to the ends of chromosomes, is responsible for telomere maintenance, and its expression is associated with cell immortalization and, in certain cases, cancerogenesis.

An "enigmatic" L-carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine)? Cell proliferative activity as a fundamental property of a natural dipeptide inherent to traditional antioxidant, anti-aging biological activities: balancing and a hormonally correct agent, novel patented oral therapy dosage formulation for mobility, skeletal muscle power and functional performance, hypothalamic-pituitary- brain relationship in health, aging and stress studies.

Hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones are major neuroendocrine regulators of human body metabolism being driven directly to the anterior pituitary gland via hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal veins. The alternative physiological or therapeutic interventions utilizing the pharmaco-nutritional boost of imidazole-containing dipeptides (non-hydrolized oral form of carnosine, carcinine, N-acetylcarnosine lubricant eye drops) can maintain health, enhance physical exercise performance and prevent ageing. Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) is synthesized in mammalian skeletal muscle.

The Role of Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Neuropathy: Generation of Free Radical Species in the Glycation Reaction and Gene Polymorphisms Encoding Antioxidant Enzymes to Genetic Susceptibility to Diabetic Neuropathy in Population of Type I Diabetic Patients.

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) represents the main cause of morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients. Clinical data support the conclusion that the severity of DN is related to the frequency and duration of hyperglycemic periods. The presented experimental and clinical evidences propose that changes in cellular function resulting in oxidative stress act as a leading factor in the development and progression of DN.

Hormone-brain-aging relationships, broadly reactive with imidazole-containing dipeptides: targeting of telomere attrition as an aging biomarker and dynamic telomerase activity flirting.

It has been documented that telomere-associated cellular senescence may contribute to certain age-related disorders, and telomere length (TL) may be an informative biomarker of healthy aging. Hormone-brain-aging behavior-modulated telomere dynamics and changes in telomerase activity are consistent elements of cellular alterations associated with changes in proliferative state, and these processes are consequently considered as the new therapeutic drug targets for physiological control with advanced drug delivery and nutritional formulations. We raise and support a therapeutic concept of using nonhydrolyzed forms of naturally occurring neuron-specific imidazole dipeptide-based compounds carnosine and carcinine, making it clinically possible that slowing down the rate of telomere shortening could slow down the human aging process in specific tissues where proliferative senescence is known to occur, with the demonstrated evidence of telomere shortening that appeared to be a hallmark of oxidative stress and disease.