Accelerated telomere shortening in rheumatic diseases: cause or consequence?
Accelerated aging of the immune system (immune aging), represented by telomere shortening, has been implicated in a variety of rheumatic diseases. Studies addressing telomere shortening in rheumatic diseases so far yielded controversial results. The current review aims to provide an overview on the role of immune aging in a plethora of immune-mediated conditions including systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and osteoarthritis. The main question this review aims to answer is whether rheumatic diseases cause accelerated aging or that accelerated aging drives rheumatic diseases.
Laboratory of translational immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht , Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Amina Z A
AZ
Dehbi
Timothy R D J
TR
Radstake
Jasper C A
JC
Broen
D019588:Aging, Premature / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D059506:Telomere Shortening / Q000276:immunology