Effectors of mammalian telomere dysfunction: A comparative transcriptome analysis using mouse models

Critical telomere shortening in the absence of telomerase in late generation Terc^-/- mice (G3 Terc^-/-) or loss of telomere capping due to abrogation of the DNA repair/telomere binding protein Ku86 (Ku86^-/- mice) results in telomere dysfunction and organismal premature aging. Here, we report on genome-wide transcription in mouse G3 Terc^-/-, Ku86^-/- and G3 Terc^-/-/Ku86^-/- germ cells using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays. Although a few transcripts are modulated specifically in Ku86- or Terc-deficient cells, the observed transcriptional response is mainly inductive and qualitatively similar for all three genotypes, with highest transcriptional induction observed in double mutant G3 Terc^-/-/Ku86^-/- cells compared with either single mutant. Analysis of 92 known genes induced in G3 Terc^-/-/Ku86^-/- germ cells compared with wild-type cells shows predominance of genes involved in cell adhesion, cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix communication, as well as increased metabolic turnover and augmented antioxidant responses. In addition, the data presented in this study support the view that telomere dysfunction induces a robust compensatory response to rescue impaired germ cell function through the induction of survival signals related to the PI3-kinase pathway, as well as by the coordinated upregulation of transcripts that are essential for mammalian spermatogenesis.