European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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To investigate the interaction of telomerase activity and telomere length on neuro-protection or neuro-degeneration effects after spinal cord injury (SCI). ⋯ Increased TERT and TERF-2 activity were noted 24 h post-injury in the acute phase of SCI with TERF-2 maintaining telomeric-repeat length. Our results suggest that increased activity of telomere maintenance may be related to neuro-protective mechanisms against subsequent apoptosis resulting from DNA damage after acute SCI.