title: Telomere dysfunction in hypertension.
abstract: Aging is a major risk factor for hypertension and associated cardiovascular disease. In most proliferative tissues, aging is characterized by shortening of the DNA component of telomeres, the specialized genetic segments that cap the end of eukaryotic chromosomes and protect them from end-to-end fusions. By inducing genomic instability, replicative senescence and apoptosis, telomere shortening is thought to contribute to organismal aging and to the development of age-related diseases. Here, we review animal and human studies that have investigated the possible links between telomere ablation and the pathogenesis of hypertension and related target organ damage. Although evidence is mounting that alterations in telomerase activity and telomere shortening may play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, additional studies are required to understand the molecular mechanisms by which telomere dysfunction and hypertension are functionally connected. As our knowledge on this emerging field grows, the challenge will be to ascertain whether all this information might translate into clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Vascular Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pathology and Therapy, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: José J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fuster
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Díez
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Andrés
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D001794:Blood Pressure; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D035182:TATA Box Binding Protein-Like Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000502:physiology; D016615:Telomere; D035341:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2
chemical_list: D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D035182:TATA Box Binding Protein-Like Proteins; C504753:TERF2 protein, human; D035341:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2; D019098:Telomerase; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes