title: Three-dimensional quantitative imaging of telomeres in buccal cells identifies mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's disease patients.
abstract: Using three-dimensional (3D) telomeric analysis of buccal cells of 82 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and cognitively normal age and gender-matched controls, we have for the first time examined changes in the 3D nuclear telomeric architecture of buccal cells among levels of AD severity based on five 3D parameters: i) telomere length, ii) telomere number, iii) telomere aggregation, iv) nuclear volume, and v) a/c ratio, a measure of spatial telomere distribution. Our data indicate that matched controls have significantly different 3D telomere profiles compared to mild, moderate, and severe AD patients (p < 0.0001). Distinct profiles were also evident for each AD severity group. An increase in telomere number and aggregation concomitant with a decrease in telomere length from normal to severe AD defines the individual stages of the disease (p < 0.0001).
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, The University of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Shubha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, The University of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glogowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Geriatrics) and Neuroscience Centre, Queen's University, SMOL, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McAvoy
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, The University of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada Department of Imaging Science & Technology, Delft University of Technology, CJ Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Christiaan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Righolt
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, The University of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Jaclyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rutherford
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, The University of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Willing
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, The University of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Upama
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Banik
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Geriatrics) and Neuroscience Centre, Queen's University, SMOL, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Myuri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruthirakuhan
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, The University of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Geriatrics) and Neuroscience Centre, Queen's University, SMOL, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007399:Interphase / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure*
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; buccal mucosa; fluorescent in situ hybridization; genomic instability; telomeres; three-dimensional image