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Telomere Length

Shortening of telomeres in recipients of both autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 25, pages 441–447 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Telomere length of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 23 autologous HSCT patients ranging from 4 to 61 years old, and 46 allogeneic HSCT recipients from 6 to 52 years old were studied to confirm whether excessive shortening of telomeres is associated with HSCT. After autologous HSCT, telomere length of PBMCs ranged from 6.8 to 12.0 kb. The comparison between transplanted PBMCs and PBMCs after autologous HSCT showed shortening by up to 1.9 kb (mean ± s.d.: 0.64 ± 0.50 kb). There was a difference between autologous HSCT patients and normal volunteers in the slopes of regression lines. After allogeneic HSCT, telomere length of PBMCs ranged from 6.8 to 12.0 kb. Telomeres of recipients were up to 2.1 kb (0.60 ± 0.468 kb) shorter than those of donors. The slope of regression lines for allogeneic HSCT patients and normal volunteers were parallel. Although all patients were transplanted with more than 2.0 × 108 cells/kg, telomere length did not correlate with the number of transplanted cells. There was no significant correlation between telomere length and recovery of hematological parameters. However, three patients with an average telomere length of 6.8 kb after HSCT took a longer period to reach the normal hematological state. Taken together, these data suggest that most HSCTs are performed within the biological safety range of telomeres, while the patients who have telomeres shorter than 7.0 kb after HSCT should be observed carefully for long-term hematopoiesis and the occurrence of hematopoietic disorders. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 441–447.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Yoshikatsu Eto (Jikei University School of Medicine) for helpful advice and critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported in part by the special Coordination Fund for ‘Research for the Future Program’ from the Science and Technology Agency and by a grant in aid from ‘High-Tech Research Center (Institute of DNA Medicine)’ from the Ministry of Education of Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Institute of DNA Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Japan

    M Akiyama, M Urashima & Y Hoshi

  2. Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of DNA Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Japan

    M Akiyama & H Yamada

  3. Third Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of DNA Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Japan

    O Asai & Y Kuraishi

  4. Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Institute of DNA Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Japan

    Y Hoshi

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital, Japan

    H Sakamaki

  6. Department of Pediatrics, Tokai University School of Medicine, Japan

    H Yabe

  7. Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation, Niigata University Hospital, Japan

    T Furukawa

  8. Department of Hematology, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan

    O Yamada & H Mizoguchi

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  1. M Akiyama
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Akiyama, M., Asai, O., Kuraishi, Y. et al. Shortening of telomeres in recipients of both autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 25, 441–447 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702144

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702144

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