Human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA (hTERT mRNA)

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA (hTERT mRNA) is the messenger RNA transcript encoding the catalytic subunit of telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme complex that extends telomeres at chromosomal ends[1][2][3]. hTERT is the rate-limiting determinant of telomerase activity, essential for cellular immortalization and proliferation[1][4]. hTERT mRNA is tightly regulated and largely absent from most adult somatic cells, but highly expressed in the majority of cancers, correlating with telomerase activation—a hallmark of malignancy[4][6][8]. The transcript undergoes significant alternative splicing, with certain isoforms acting as dominant-negative inhibitors of telomerase activity[2][3][4]. Clinically, hTERT mRNA is being explored as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, especially using blood-derived or exosomal forms for cancer monitoring[7][8]. Drugs targeting hTERT mRNA include direct antisense inhibitors (e.g., imetelstat), small-molecule inhibitors of telomerase activity, and experimental approaches exploiting its cancer-specific expression[9][10]. Major therapeutic and safety concerns involve potential off-target effects in normal stem cells and resistance via genomic alterations such as promoter mutations or splicing variants[4][5].

Other names

TERT mRNAtelomerase reverse transcriptase mRNAtelomerase catalytic subunit mRNA

Inhibition of telomerase activity (by direct binding to hTERT mRNA or protein), Antisense-mediated degradation of hTERT mRNA, Inhibition of transcription, Blockage of telomerase assembly/function