RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Telomeres which are formed by double-strand breaks and DNA under replication, cause cell cycle arrest resulting in cellular senescence and apoptosis. The erosion of telomeres is an important mechanism for regulating the aging process by limiting cell proliferation. Over the last decade, many investigations in the field of telomeric biology showed that telomeric DNA and telomeric proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of some human diseases. The aim of the study was to compare telomere length in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Telomere length was measured in buccal epithelial cells and leukocytes in PD patients and controls. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The length of telomeres in cells of buccal epithelium was shorter in patients with PD than in the control group. In blood cells, telomere length did not differ. It is suggested that shortening of telomeres in buccal epithelial cells may be due to oxidative stress and, hence, it can be used as a marker for the early stages of disease.
