The Role of Telomeres in Aging and Carcinogenesis: A Brief Overview

Abstract

Telomeres and telomerases have been shown to be involved in the control of cell proliferation, the aging process and the unlimited proliferation ability of malignant cells. Usually during mitosis one part of the end of chromosome is lost and this short telomere is found in most dividing somatic cells leading to cell senescence. In contrast, some somatic cells undergo epigenetic mechanisms that leaving the telomerase active, preventing the telomeric shortening and participates that carcinogenesis process.