Telomeres are essential for the integrity of chromosomes and for cellular replication. Attrition of telomeres occurs during DNA replication owing to the inability of conventional DNA polymerase to replicate chromosomal termini and the insufficient compensation for telomere loss by telomerase, an enzyme that synthesizes telomeric DNA. A number of genetic defects have been described in humans and in animal models that cause accelerated telomere attrition, in turn leading to severe phenotypes of hematopoietic and other proliferating cells. Telomere length, most frequently measured as an average value in heterogeneous peripheral blood leukocyte populations in humans, has been associated with a wide range of health conditions and diseases of immune and non-immune cells. Here, I review recent studies of telomere length dynamics with particular relevance to immune function.

中文翻译：

---

端粒和免疫能力。

端粒对于染色体的完整性和细胞复制至关重要。由于常规 DNA 聚合酶无法复制染色体末端，以及端粒酶（一种合成端粒 DNA 的酶）对端粒损失的补偿不足，在 DNA 复制过程中会发生端粒磨损。在人类和动物模型中已经描述了许多遗传缺陷，这些缺陷会导致端粒加速磨损，进而导致造血细胞和其他增殖细胞的严重表型。端粒长度最常测量为人类异质外周血白细胞群的平均值，与免疫和非免疫细胞的多种健康状况和疾病有关。这里，