title: Telomere homeostasis in IUGR placentas - A review.
abstract: Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures located at the termini of chromosomes. They are essential for chromosome stability. Telomeres become shorter due to mitotic cycles and environmental factors. When telomeres are shortened and therefore dysfunctional, cellular senescence occurs and organ dysfunction might develop. During pregnancy, fetal growth restriction secondary to placental insufficiency has been linked to impaired telomere homeostasis in which telomeres are shorter, telomerase is decreased, and compensatory mechanisms of telomere capture are enhanced. These characteristics, along with increased signs of senescence, indicate telomere dysfunction in trophoblasts from placentas affected by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This review summarizes the information currently available regarding telomere homeostasis in trophoblasts from human pregnancies affected by IUGR. Improved understanding of placental physiology might help in the development of treatment options for fetuses with IUGR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: shentalt@inter.net.il.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Biron-Shental
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sadeh-Mestechkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Aliza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amiel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: IUGR; Placenta; Telomeres; Trophoblasts