Getliffe, Katherine M., Ruiz, Carmen Martin, Passos, Joao F., von Zglinicki, Thomas and Nwokolo, Chuka U.. (2006) Extended lifespan and long telomeres in rectal fibroblasts from late-onset ulcerative colitis patients. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY, 18 (2). pp. 133-141. ISSN 0954-691X

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Abstract

Objectives Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by damage to the intestinal epithelium and connective tissue. The causes of this damage could include changes in the ability of colonic fibroblasts to heal wounds and maintain epithelial cell proliferation. Telomeres shorten with each cell division and eventually signal senescence. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the impaired function of rectal fibroblasts in UC is due to accelerated telomere shortening, oxidative stress and premature senescence.

Methods We isolated rectal fibroblasts from eight UC patients and nine non-colitis controls, and recorded their in-vitro lifespans. Telomere lengths and superoxide dismutase mRNA expression were also measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and peroxide levels were measured by flow cytometry.

Results The fibroblast lifespan decreased as patient age increased (R-2 = 0.68, P = 0.003) in control patients, but this relationship was absent in UC fibroblasts. We identified a group of patients who were diagnosed later in life than a second group (59 versus 35 years, P = 0.002). Fibroblasts from these late-onset UC patients underwent significantly more population doublings before senescence than age-matched controls (25 versus 15, P = 0.02). Slower in-vitro telomere shortening rates (32 versus 344, P = 0.006) and trends towards longer telomeres at explant were also observed in late-onset UC fibroblasts. Peroxide levels correlated positively with telomere shortening rate (r = 0.581, P = 0.078).

Conclusions Some UC-predisposed individuals may have more efficient antioxidant systems that protect the telomeres from oxidative damage. This may allow their rectal fibroblasts to live longer, function better and thus delay the onset of the disease until later life.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Journal or Publication Title:	EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY
Publisher:	LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
ISSN:	0954-691X
Official Date:	February 2006
Volume:	18
Number:	2
Number of Pages:	9
Page Range:	pp. 133-141
Identification Number:	10.1097/00042737-200602000-00005
Publication Status:	Published
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/32619

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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