Telomerase activation

Based on the provided sources, telomerase activation and maintenance are critical mechanisms in oncology and regenerative biology. Malignant cells maintain telomeres through genetic mechanisms that include *TERT* promoter mutations or alterations in telomere(definition)-binding proteins such as ATRX and DAXX, which are frequently observed in gliomas, hepatocellular carcinoma, and aggressive thyroid cancers [1, 3, 6]. Conversely, germline mutations in telomerase components (such as *hTERT* and *hTR*) impair telomerase function, causing premature disease states like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and dyskeratosis congenita [5]. In regenerative contexts, transient telomerase induction is being explored as a therapeutic strategy in myogenic progenitor cells to combat stem cell exhaustion and failed tissue regeneration, such as in Duchenne muscular dystrophy [9].

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