Telomere + Formula nurtures Qi and Blood. It helps enhance the biological activities that support the maintenance and extension of telomeres. It also helps enhance activities to repair damage caused by the aging process.
Telomeres are the genomic portions with repetitive nucleotide sequences and special proteins at the ends of linear chromosomes. Telomeric DNA in vertebrates is made of TTAGGG repeats bound by a set of capping proteins. Telomeres are essential genetic elements responsible for protecting the terminal regions of chromosomal DNA from progressive degradation. Telomeres consist of hundreds or thousands of repeats of the same short DNA sequence (5'-TTAGGG-3') which varies between organisms. In humans, the length of the telomere segment is between 5,000 to 15,000 base pairs long. This long stretch of repetitive DNA sequences is characterized by a 3' end single-stranded overhang, which tucks itself into the end of the chromosome, creating a conformation called a T-loop. Of note, the T-loop biochemical structure is thermodynamically unfavorable. As such, capping proteins are required in manufacturing and maintaining the T-loop.
The standard DNA polymerases that replicate the DNA cannot fully replicate linear DNA templates in the absence of telomerase, therefore DNA replication results in the generation of chromosomes with progressively shortened telomeres. As telomeres reach a critically shortened length, they become unable to bind enough telomere-capping proteins and are sensed as exposed DNA ends, which activates the transient DNA damage response process. Such DNA damage response can further induce the production of the cell cycle inhibitors p21 and p16, and cause arrest of cell proliferation. Such short telomeres, however, retain a sufficient number of telomere-binding proteins to inhibit DNA repair and avoid fusions, and consequently drive a persistent DNA damage signal that enforces a permanent DNA damage-induced proliferative arrest. This initiates and maintains cellular senescence, a key contributor to organismal ageing and multiple age-related diseases. Following telomere dysfunction, some cell types may also undergo cell death by apoptosis or autophagy.
In addition to irreversible cell cycle arrest, cellular senescence is also associated with changes in chromatin, gene expression, organelles and cell morphology. Importantly, senescent cells secrete a complex set of pro-inflammatory cytokines, known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. This alters the composition of the extracellular matrix, impairs stem cell functions, promotes cell trans-differentiation and can spread the senescence phenotype to surrounding cells, thereby causing systemic chronic inflammation leading to many age-related diseases and premature ageing syndromes.
In contrast to the normal human cells which have telomeres that are progressively shorten throughout life, cancer cells have reactivated telomerase and can maintain telomere length during continuous cell division. The repression of telomerase and shorter telomeres in humans may have evolved, in part, as an anticancer protection mechanism.
A number of studies have shown that Traditional Chinese Medicine ingredients are to be able to activate the telomerase to delay aging and reverse age tissue degeneration without causing cancer. One such herb is Astragalus Membranaceus (Huangqi), a well-known Chinese tonic herb. An extract of A. Membranaceus called TA-65 has shown to activate telomerase to extend the lengths of the shortest telomeres.
A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study of TA-65 on telomere length changes over a 1 year period has been conducted on 117 relatively healthy cytomegalovirus-positive subjects aged 53-87 years old. Subjects taking the dose of TA-65 (250 U) significantly increased telomere length over the 12 months period (530 ± 180 bp; p = 0.005), whereas subjects in the placebo group significantly lost telomere length (290 ± 100 bp; p = 0.01).
TA-65 functions as a telomerase activator which stimulates the expression and the activity of telomerase to elongate short telomeres and increase the health span of adult/old mice without increasing cancer incidence. TA-65 dietary supplementation in female mice can improve certain health-span indicators including glucose tolerance, osteoporosis and skin fitness.
In another study the impact of the TA-65 on telomere lengths and flight feather renewal capacity of captive zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata) was tested. The results showed that telomere length was longer in TA-65 treated finches while their feathers grew faster than in controls. TA-65 can lengthen the telomere lengths and produce higher rates of feather renewal in captive zebra finches.
Another study enrolling 7000 person-years in over a 5-year period, found that TA-65 improves markers of metabolic, bone, and cardiovascular health, with no adverse events, which suggests that TA-65 improves health and may reduce risk of morbidity and mortality.
TAT2 is another single chemical entity isolated from the extract of the root of A. Membranaceus. In tissue culture studies with CD8+ T cells from HIV subjects, TAT2 increased replicative capacity, improved cytokine and chemokine responses to antigens, increased killing of autologous HIV-infected CD4+ cells, and retarded telomere shortening by regulating telomerase at the transcription level.
Angelica sinensis (Danggui) is another Chinese herb which can increase the length of telomeres and the activity of telomerase. Studies on the effect of Angelica sinensis (Danggui) polysaccharides on the length of telomeres, the activity of telomerase, and the expression of P53 protein in mice hematopoietic stem cells has been conducted. Compared with the normal group, X-ray irradiation could significantly increase the cell ratio in mice hematopoietic stem cells G1 stage, rate of SA-beta-Gal positive cells and expression of P53 protein, and reduce the length of telomeres and the vitality of telomerase. Compared with the aging group, Angelica sinensis polysaccharides could significantly inhibit the cell ratio in mice hematopoietic stem cells G1 stage and the increase in the number of SA-beta-Gal positive cells, down-regulate the expression of P53 protein, and increase the length of telomeres and the vitality of telomerase. Angelica sinensis (Danggui) polysaccharides could antagonize X-ray-induced aging of mice hematopoietic stem cells, which may be related to the increase in the length of telomeres and the activity of telomerase, as well as the down-regulation of the expression of P53 protein.
These studies indicated that some ingredients in Telomere+ can help increase the telomere length and counter the aging process. Clinically, people who have used Telomere+ have reported increased mental alertness, increased skin fitness with reduced wrinkles and age marks. People can have the feelable changes after initial use for a week and can have significant changes after one month. It is recommended to take it as a wellness product to maintain telomere health and to support a healthy aging process.
