hTERT

hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) is the catalytic subunit of telomerase, an enzyme responsible for synthesizing telomeric DNA at the ends of chromosomes. Telomerase activity is typically low or absent in most somatic cells but is reactivated and overexpressed in approximately 85% of human cancers, making it a significant target for cancer immunotherapy. Therapeutic strategies involving hTERT include gene therapy, where active hTERT is delivered (e.g., via AAV vectors) to lengthen telomeres, aiming to prevent, delay, or reverse aging-related diseases such as critical limb ischemia and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, hTERT is utilized in various vaccine platforms, including multi-peptide vaccines and mRNA-transfected dendritic cell vaccines, to elicit hTERT-specific immune responses against cancer cells.

Other names

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase