Telomere length dynamics in normal individuals and in patients with hematopoietic stem cell-associated disorders

Brummendorf, T., Rufer, N., Holyoake, T., Maciejewski, J., Barnett, M., Eaves, C., Eaves, A., Young, N. and Lansdorp, P. (2001) Telomere length dynamics in normal individuals and in patients with hematopoietic stem cell-associated disorders. In: Orlic, D., Brummendorf, T., Sharkis, S. and Kanz, L. (eds.) Hematopoietic Stem Cells 2000 Basic And Clinical Sciences. Series: Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences (938). New York Academy of Sciences: New York, pp. 293-304. ISBN 1-57331-295-9

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Abstract

The telomere length in nucleated peripheral blood (PB) cells indirectly reflects the mitotic history of their precursors: the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The average length of telomeres in PB leukocytes can be measured using fluorescence in situ hybridization and flow cytometry (flow FISH). We previously used flow FISH to characterize the age-related turnover of HSCs in healthy individuals. In this review, we describe results of recent flow FISH studies in patients with selected hematopoietic stem cell-associated disorders: chronic myelogeneous leukemia (CML) and several bone marrow failure syndromes. CML is characterized by a marked expansion of myeloid Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) cells. Nevertheless, nonmalignant (Ph-) HSCs typically coexist in the bone marrow of CML patients. We analyzed the telomere length in > 150 peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and bone marrow samples of patients with CML as well as samples of Ph- T-lymphocytes. Compared to normal controls, the overall telomere fluorescence in PBLs of patients with CML was significantly reduced. However, no telomere shortening was observed in Ph- T-lymphocytes. Patients in late chronic phase (CP) had significantly shorter telomeres than those assessed earlier in CP. Our data suggest that progressive telomere shortening is correlated with disease progression in CML. Within the group of patients with bone marrow failure syndromes, we only found significantly shortened telomeres (compared to age-adjusted controls) in granulocytes from patients with aplastic anemia (AA). Strikingly, the telomere length in granulocytes from AA patients who had recovered after immunosuppressive therapy (recAA) did not differ significantly from controls, whereas untreated patients and nonresponders with persistent severe pancytopenia (sAANR) showed marked and significant telomere shortening compared to healthy donors and patients with recAA. Furthermore, an inverse correlation between age-adjusted telomere length and peripheral blood counts was found in support of a model in which the degree of cytopenia and the amount of telomere shortening are correlated. These results support the concept of extensive proliferation of HSCs in subgroups of AA patients and suggest a potential use of telomere-length measurements as a prognostic tool in this group of disorders as well.

Item Type:Book Sections
Additional Information:3rd International Conference on Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Genetics and Medicine, TUBINGEN, GERMANY, SEP 14-16, 2000 AMGEN; KIRIN Series ISSN: 0077-8923
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Holyoake, Professor Tessa
Authors: Brummendorf, T., Rufer, N., Holyoake, T., Maciejewski, J., Barnett, M., Eaves, C., Eaves, A., Young, N., and Lansdorp, P.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Publisher:New York Academy of Sciences
ISBN:1-57331-295-9

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