title: TERC telomerase subunit gene copy number in placentas from pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth restriction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a significant cause of both short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. IUGR secondary to placental dysfunction is correlated with telomere shortening. Telomerase is an enzyme complex that elongates telomeres. One of its components is encoded by the telomerase RNA component gene (TERC), which serves as the RNA template for the addition of telomeric repeats. We hypothesized decreased TERC gene copy number in IUGR placentas as part of the mechanism of telomere shortening in placental dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  we estimated the gene copy number of the TERC gene at 3q26 by applying FISH to trophoblasts of placental biopsies from five pregnancies with IUGR caused by placental insufficiency and compared them to placentas from five gestational-age matched, uncomplicated pregnancies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  significantly lower TERC gene copy number was observed in IUGR trophoblasts on the same chromosome and on other chromosomes, compared to the control samples (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the TERC gene copy number is decreased in IUGR trophoblasts. These results support the observations of telomere shortening and decreased telomerase activity in IUGR placentas. We suggest that these findings might play a role in the pathophysiology of IUGR, perhaps by promoting senescence in trophoblasts of IUGR placentas.
authors.affiliation: Department of OBGYN, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel. shentalt@inter.co.il
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Biron-Shental
authors.forename: Dvora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kidron
authors.forename: Rivka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sukenik-Halevy
authors.forename: Lilach
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goldberg-Bittman
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharony
authors.forename: Moshe D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fejgin
authors.forename: Aliza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amiel
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002893:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018628:Gene Dosage / Q000502:physiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; C422952:telomerase RNA; D012313:RNA; D019098:Telomerase