title: Interaction between Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection and age on telomerase misregulation.
abstract: Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL). BLV can interact with telomerase and inhibits telomere shortening, contributing in leukemogenesis and tumour induction. The role of telomerase in BLV-induced lymphosarcoma and aging has been extensively studied. To date, the interaction of both BLV and aging on telomerase mis-regulation have, however, not been investigated. In the present study, telomerase activity in BLV positive and negative cows was compared over a wide range of ages (11-85 months). Lymphocyte counts were also measured in both BLV positive and negative groups. Telomerase activity was detected in all BLV infected animals with persistent lymphocytosis (PL), especially in older individuals. This study revealed that the cells undergo the natural telomerase shortening even in the presence of an existing viral infection. We also show that viral infection, especially during the PL phase of the disease, increases telomerase activity. A statistically significant interaction between age and viral infection was observed for telomere shortening during BLV infection. Older animals with BLV infection, especially those with persistent lymphocytosis or visible tumors, exhibited a sharp increase in telomerase activity. This study demonstrates that there is a significant interaction between BLV infection and telomerase up-regulation and lymphocytosis.
authors: School of Animal and Veterinary Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, farhid.hemmatzadeh@adelaide.edu.au.
authors: Farhid
authors: F
authors: Hemmatzadeh
authors: Hadi
authors: H
authors: Keyvanfar
authors: Noor Haliza
authors: NH
authors: Hasan
authors: Faustina
authors: F
authors: Niap
authors: Ebrahim
authors: E
authors: Bani Hassan
authors: Azar
authors: A
authors: Hematzade
authors: Esmaeil
authors: E
authors: Ebrahimie
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: McWhorter
authors: Jagoda
authors: J
authors: Ignjatovic
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D016583:Enzootic Bovine Leukosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine / Q000502:physiology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase