TELOMERES AND CELLULAR AGING: BIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Аннотация

Telomeres, therepetitivenucleotide sequences at theends of linear chromosomes, serve as protective caps that preserve genomic stability. With each round of cell division, telomeres progressively shorten, eventually leading to cellular senescence or apoptosis. This process of telomere attrition is now recognized as a key contributor to organismal aging and age-related diseases. In this article, we explore the molecular biology of telomeres, the function of telomerase in maintaining telomere length, and the implications of telomere dynamics in human health. Special emphasis is placed on the role of telomere shortening in cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and age-associated degeneration, as well as on emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at telomere preservation. Keywords: Telomeres, cellular senescence, telomerase, aging, DNA damage response, cancer, chromosomestability, regenerativemedicine, TERT, molecularaging