title: Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to telomere attrition and genomic instability.
abstract: Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have been implicated in cellular senescence, apoptosis, aging and aging-associated pathologies. Telomere shortening and genomic instability have also been associated with replicative senescence, aging and cancer. Here we show that mitochondrial dysfunction leads to telomere attrition, telomere loss, and chromosome fusion and breakage, accompanied by apoptosis. An antioxidant prevented telomere loss and genomic instability in cells with dysfunctional mitochondria, suggesting that reactive oxygen species are mediators linking mitochondrial dysfunction and genomic instability. Further, nuclear transfer protected genomes from telomere dysfunction and promoted cell survival by reconstitution with functional mitochondria. This work links mitochondrial dysfunction and genomic instability and may provide new therapeutic strategies to combat certain mitochondrial and aging-associated pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ob/Gyn, Brown University and Women & Infants Hospital, Providence, RI 02905, USA.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Trimarchi
authors.forename: Peter J S
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Keefe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics*; D019457:Chromosome Breakage / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*; D016378:Tissue Transplantation; D015053:Zygote / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species