Quantitative telomerase activity in circulating human leukocytes: utility of real-time telomeric repeats amplification protocol (RQ-TRAP) in a clinical/epidemiological setting.

BACKGROUND There is accumulating evidence from the epidemiological field of telomere biology that telomere length plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. The RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, telomerase, is essential in regulating telomere length by acting as a reverse transcriptase. However, the relationship between telomerase activity and telomere length in cardiovascular disease is unclear. This is due, in part, to the paucity of information on the utility of a quantitative and routine assay for the determination of telomerase activity in circulating blood leukocytes. METHODS We used a validated, high-sensitive real-time quantitative telomeric repeat amplification protocol (RQ-TRAP) to determine telomerase activity in circulating blood leukocytes. RESULTS The present investigation demonstrated direct and reliable detection of telomerase activity of circulating blood leukocytes. CONCLUSION The present investigation suggests the feasibility of using RQ-TRAP assay in routine screening of telomerase activity in blood specimens typically collected in a clinical/epidemiological setting.