Telomere length and telomerase reverse transcriptase gene polymorphism as potential markers of complete chimerism and GvHD development after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bibliographic Details
Title: Telomere length and telomerase reverse transcriptase gene polymorphism as potential markers of complete chimerism and GvHD development after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Marta Dratwa-Kuzmin, Piotr Lacina, Barbara Wysoczanska, Dorota Kilinska, Jagoda Siemaszko, Malgorzata Sobczyk-Kruszelnicka, Wojciech Fidyk, Iwona Solarska, Barbara Nasiłowska-Adamska, Patrycja Skowronska, Maria Bieniaszewska, Agnieszka Tomaszewska, Grzegorz Basak, Sebastian Giebel, Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
Source: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, Vol 151, Iss 3, Pp 1-9 (2025)
Publisher Information: Springer, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Subject Terms: Telomere length, TERT gene, Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, Acute graft-versus-host-disease, Complete chimerism, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, RC254-282
More Details: Abstract Introduction Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is a catalytic subunit of telomerase that maintains genome stability by maintaining telomere length (TL). The massive proliferation of donor cells in the recipient’s body for engraftment results in accelerated telomere shortening. Genetic variability within the TERT gene affects telomerase activity, and was shown to influence of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) outcome. In the present study, we aimed to analyse the effect of recipient and donor TL and TERT single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the occurrence of post-HSCT complications. Methods Our study included 120 recipient-donor pairs. TERT promoter (TERTp) SNP (rs2853669) SNP variant was detected with the use of the LightSNiP typing assay employing real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications. Telomere length measurements were performed using qPCR test kits (ScienCell’s Absolute Human Telomere Length Quantification qPCR Assay Kit [AHTLQ], Carlsbad, CA, USA). Results The presence of TERTp rs2853669 T allele in the recipient was associated with a higher risk for acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGvHD) manifestation (p = 0.046) and a significantly shorter aGvHD-free survival (p = 0.041). The latter association was further confirmed in a Cox proportional hazards model (p = 0.043). However, no statistically significant association between telomere length and post-transplant complications was observed. Furthermore, we found that shorter TL characterized donors of patients with late complete chimerism at 180 day after HSCT (p = 0.011). Conclusion Our results suggest that recipient allele TERTp rs2853669 T is a marker of unfavourable outcome in the context of aGvHD. Shorter TL in donors could be associated with later achievement of complete chimerism.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1432-1335
01469991
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1432-1335
DOI: 10.1007/s00432-025-06160-7
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/83b594cf8a01469991752b66dada6cd7
Accession Number: edsdoj.83b594cf8a01469991752b66dada6cd7
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:14321335
01469991
DOI:10.1007/s00432-025-06160-7
Published in:Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
Language:English