Liu S.-C.SHOEI-SHEN WANGMU-ZON WUWu D.-C.Yu F.-J.WEN-JONE CHENFU-TIEN CHIANGYu M.-F.2020-02-272020-02-2720051054-8807https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/466217Introduction: Considerable research on telomerase on human neoplastic and normal long-lived proliferative tissues has emerged. We explored the expression of telomerase in atherosclerotic human epicardial coronary arteries. Methods: Forty discrete human coronary arterial segments obtained from 19 heart transplant recipients were classified into nonatherosclerotic and atherosclerotic groups based on coronary angiography and histological examination. PCR-ELISA-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP), and immunohistochemical analyses were conducted to determine the functional activity and cell-specific expression of telomerase. Results: Seventy percent of atherosclerotic coronary arteries exhibited positive telomerase activity, and the reactivation incidence reached fourfold higher than that of controls (P=.007). The telomerase catalytic protein, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), was expressed in 88% of atherosclerotic tissues, a fivefold higher frequency compared with that of the controls. There was also a correlation of hTERT expression with the level of telomerase bioactivity (P=.017) and with the severity of atherosclerotic grade (P<.001). In comparison with the immunostaining of mitotic antigen, Ki-67, we found an association of hTERT expression with actively cycling cells in early lesions but with quiescent cells in late advanced atherosclerotic stages. Conclusions: The up-regulation of telomerase and its catalytic hTERT protein during stages of atherosclerotic evolution may implicate a role of telomerase in vascular remodeling underlying atherogenesis. ? 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.[SDGs]SDG3Ki 67 antigen; telomerase reverse transcriptase; adolescent; adult; aged; angiocardiography; article; catalysis; cell cycle; clinical article; controlled study; coronary artery atherosclerosis; correlation analysis; disease severity; enzyme activation; enzyme activity; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; enzyme reactivation; female; heart graft; histology; human; immunohistochemistry; male; polymerase chain reaction; priority journal; protein expression; recipient; telomeric repeat amplification protocol; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Coronary Arteriosclerosis; Coronary Vessels; DNA-Binding Proteins; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Gene Amplification; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Telomerasejournal article10.1016/j.carpath.2005.05.006161688952-s2.0-24944561958