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. 2010 May;24(4):531-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2009.11.018. Epub 2009 Dec 16.

Dynamics of telomerase activity in response to acute psychological stress

Elissa S Epel  1 , Jue Lin, Firdaus S Dhabhar, Owen M Wolkowitz, E Puterman, Lori Karan, Elizabeth H Blackburn
Affiliations

Dynamics of telomerase activity in response to acute psychological stress

Elissa S Epel et al. Brain Behav Immun. 2010 May.

Abstract

Telomerase activity plays an essential role in cell survival, by lengthening telomeres and promoting cell growth and longevity. It is now possible to quantify the low levels of telomerase activity in human leukocytes. Low basal telomerase activity has been related to chronic stress in people and to chronic glucocorticoid exposure in vitro. Here we test whether leukocyte telomerase activity changes under acute psychological stress. We exposed 44 elderly women, including 22 high stress dementia caregivers and 22 matched low stress controls, to a brief laboratory psychological stressor, while examining changes in telomerase activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). At baseline, caregivers had lower telomerase activity levels than controls, but during stress telomerase activity increased similarly in both groups. Across the entire sample, subsequent telomerase activity increased by 18% one hour after the end of the stressor (p<0.01). The increase in telomerase activity was independent of changes in numbers or percentages of monocytes, lymphocytes, and specific T cell types, although we cannot fully rule out some potential contribution from immune cell redistribution in the change in telomerase activity. Telomerase activity increases were associated with greater cortisol increases in response to the stressor. Lastly, psychological response to the tasks (greater threat perception) was also related to greater telomerase activity increases in controls. These findings uncover novel relationships of dynamic telomerase activity with exposure to an acute stressor, and with two classic aspects of the stress response - perceived psychological stress and neuroendocrine (cortisol) responses to the stressor.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement: All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Telomerase activity (logged) during the lab stressor Figure 1b: Telomerase activity (logged) by caregivers and controls during lab stressor
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cortisol change during laboratory stressor by caregivers and controls
Figure 3
Figure 3
Lymphocytes and Neutrophils (%) during the lab stressor
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Psychological stress, telomeres, and telomerase.
    Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Glaser R. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, et al. Brain Behav Immun. 2010 May;24(4):529-30. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2010.02.002. Epub 2010 Feb 16. Brain Behav Immun. 2010. PMID: 20167271 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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