Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells.

Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine2003PMID: 12937682

Plain Language Summary

Adding Epitalon to human fibroblast cultures reactivated the telomerase gene, induced telomerase enzyme activity, and elongated telomeres in cells that previously had no telomerase activity. This landmark finding suggests that Epitalon can effectively turn back the cellular aging clock, potentially extending both cell and organism lifespan.

Abstract

Addition of Epithalon peptide in telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblast culture induced expression of the catalytical subunit, enzymatic activity of telomerase, and telomere elongation, which can be due to reactivation of telomerase gene in somatic cells and indicates the possibility of prolonging life span of a cell population and of the whole organism.

Authors

Khavinson, V Kh; Bondarev, I E; Butyugov, A A