What is the role of telomeres in osteoarthritis? (2) Do telomeres cause OA and other diseases...

Ans:Telomers are short repititive sequences of DNA at the end of chromosomes.They are synthesised by the help of telomerase which are found more in germ cells than somatic cells.

Telomers help in proper DNA replication.During replication around 25 to 200 bases are lost which are from telomers in place of DNA.Without it Important DNA segements would be lost.

With time aging,oxidative stress ,smoking and obesity it is believed that their length decreases.

Osteoarthritis is a diseases effecting joints particularly of older people.It is brought by combination of genetic,epigenetic and environmental factors.

It is now considerd to be linked to reduction in telomer length and decreased activity of telomerase enzyme in cells around the effected joints,blood WBCs and chondriocytes.

Guangju zhai,Tim spector at St thomas hospital london researched on the link between osteoarthritis and telomer shortening of about 1000 cases particularly female twins.They found that there was shortening of telomers in WBCs and chondriocytes of about 160 and more shortening in those having severe joint disorder among older ones.This effect was more with smoking and obesity.

Jane Warthington of Manchesters Arthritis epidemology unit also found bone disorders like osteoporosis linked to telomer shortening.

Another research in a BioMed showed that knee cells of arthritis patients show less telomer or shortening.

As osteoarthritis is a disorder of elder or old age people and with age the activity of telomerase decreases and so telomer length.This is further aggraviated by age related factors like oxidative stress ,obesity and smoking.

So genetic factors with environmental interaction cintributes to the developement of osteoarthritis.Overall it is not the individual shortening but the combination of factors that contribute to it.

Telomers can be used for diagonosis.3D signature toronto is working on 3D imaging of telomers in cancer cells and accordingly select a treatment strategy.

morever the high activity of telomersse in cancer cells of pancreas can be used to detect it early.

so the length and the enzyme activity can be a useful tool for diagonosis of diseases.