Colocalizing Telomeres With PML Or Γh2Ax Foci By IF-FISH In Mouse Brain Neurons
Our chromosomes have protective caps called telomeres, which are crucial for maintaining genetic stability. In most dividing cells, these telomeres naturally shorten with age, a process linked to cellular aging. However, brain cells, or neurons, are unique because they don’t divide. This has made it challenging to study how their telomeres behave, especially in the context of neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, where aging is a significant risk factor.
Traditional methods for analyzing telomeres were designed for dividing cells, making them less effective for understanding what happens in non-dividing neurons. To overcome this, researchers have developed an adapted technique that combines two powerful imaging methods: immunofluorescence and telomere fluorescent in situ hybridization (IF-FISH).
This innovative approach allows scientists to simultaneously observe telomeres and specific markers associated with DNA damage (called γH2AX) or an alternative way cells can maintain telomere length (involving a protein called PML). The real breakthrough is that this technique can be successfully applied directly to brain tissue, enabling the study of telomeres within individual cortical neurons. This offers a significant advantage over older methods that could only analyze bulk tissue, providing a much clearer picture of telomere health in the brain and potentially shedding light on their role in neurodegenerative conditions.
Source: link to paper