[The expression of human telomerase-associated protein hTERT and TEP1 in cord blood stem/progenitor cells and its significance].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the regulatory effects of hTERT and TEP1 on telomerase activity in hematopoiesis.


METHODS
The hTERT and TEP1 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR and the telomerase activi-ty by TRAP.


RESULTS
In mononuclear cells (MNC) and CD(34)(-) cells, no detectable telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA expression were found. CD(34)(+) cells showed hTERT expression and a low level telomerase activity. TEP1 mRNA was detected in MNC, CD(34)(-) and CD(34)(+) cells with no significant difference in the expression level. In the CD(34)(+) cells cultured in vitro with growth factors for 7 days, the telomerase activity and the expression of hTERT mRNA were upregulated, but were downregulated in the long time culture. No significant changes in TEP1 expression was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In the course of hematopoiesis, hTERT mRNA expression was in accordance with telomerase activity, hTERT gene plays a crucial role in the expression of telomerase activity, while TEP1 gene plays, if any, a much smaller role.
Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Yanping
Y
Ma
Ping
P
Zou
Juan
J
Xiao
Shiang
S
Huang
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C104342:TEP1 protein, human; D019098:Telomerase