title: Pharmaceutical regulation of telomerase and its clinical potential.
abstract: Telomeres serve the dual function of protecting chromosomes from genomic instability as well as protecting the ends of chromosomes from DNA damage machinery. The enzyme responsible for telomere maintenance is telomerase, an enzyme capable of reverse transcription. Telomerase activity is typically limited to specific cell types. However, telomerase activation in somatic cells serves as a key step toward cell immortalization and cancer. Targeting telomerase serves as a potential cancer treatment with significant therapeutic benefits. Beyond targeting cancers by inhibiting telomerase, manipulating the regulation of telomerase may also provide therapeutic benefit to other ailments, such as those related to aging. This review will introduce human telomeres and telomerase and discuss pharmacological regulation of telomerase, including telomerase inhibitors and activators, and their use in human diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Alyssa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sprouse
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Steding
authors.forename: Brittney-Shea
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Herbert
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004247:DNA; D019098:Telomerase