[Study on the dynamic changing profiles of telomeric restricted fragment length among sex balanced different age groups].
OBJECTIVE
In human, both in vivo and in vitro, telomere shortening appears to be a major component of cell senescence and aging. The detailed telomere shortening status and mechanism in peripheral blood cell is needed to be further characterized.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty three peripheral blood samples were collected from healthy individuals of different age groups and the mean telomeric restricted fragment (TRF) was measured using Southern Blotting with Dig labeled probe. The samples of different groups were homogenized in sex components as indicated by chi 2 test of sex ratio of different test groups (P > 0.05).


RESULTS
The average length of TRF is shortening with aging and distinguished shortening dynamic profiles could be observed. Further analysis showed that there might be a shortening peak near the age of 5.


CONCLUSIONS
There are distinguished dynamics profiles of telomere shortening among different age groups. Thus, the results indicate that it might be possible to infer individual age by telomeric restricted fragment length assay.
Ge
Lu-lu
LL
Guangzhou Institute of Criminal Science & Technology, Guangzhou 510030, China. gelulu2002@yahoo.com.cn
Liu
Chao
C
Tao
Li-yang
LY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D001773:Blood Cells; D015139:Blotting, Southern / Q000379:methods; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004261:DNA Replication; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D016615:Telomere / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
D004247:DNA