Methods of screening for compounds that derepress or increase telomerase activity

Method for treatment of a condition associated with an increased rate of proliferation of a cell, comprising the step of:

• administering to said cell a therapeutically effective amount of an agent active to reduce loss of telomere length within said cell during said proliferation.

Method for extending the ability of a cell to replicate, comprising the step of:

• administering to said cell a replication extending amount of an agent active to reduce loss of telomere length within said cell during cellular replication.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of telomerase activity in a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an agent active to reduce loss of telomere length within a cell during proliferation of said cell, in a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer.

Method for diagnosis of a condition in a patient associated with an elevated level of telomerase activity within a cell, comprising the step of:

• determining the presence or amount of telomerase within said cells in said patient.

Method for diagnosis of a condition associated with an increased rate of proliferation in a cell in an individual, comprising the steps of determining the length of telomeres within said cell.

Method of reducing the rate of telomere shortening in a proliferating cellular composition, said method comprising:

• introducing into cells of said cellular composition primers having from 2 to 3 repeats of the repeating unit of the cellular telomere.

Method of inhibiting the proliferation of telomerase-comprising immortalized cells, said method comprising

• contacting said immortalized cells with a telomerase inhibitor under conditions wherein said inhibitor enters said cells;
• whereby said proliferation of said cells is inhibited.

Method for extending the proliferative capability of a mammalian cell population, said method comprising:

• adding to said cells oligonucleotides comprising at least two repeats complementary to the sequence of the protruding strand of the telomere of the chromosomes of said cells, whereby the shortening of said telomere is slowed.

Method for treatment of a disease or condition associated with cell senescense, comprising the steps of:

• administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent active to derepress telomerase in the senescing cells.

Method for screening for a telomerase derepression agent, comprising the steps of:

• contacting a potential agent with a cell lacking telomerase activity, and
• determining whether said agent increases the level of said activity.

Method for screening for agents useful in treatment of a human disease associated with an elevated level of telomerase activity in a human cell, comprising the step of testing potential said agents for activity in inhibiting telomerase activity.

Method for preparing cells from a donor for the reintroduction of said cells to said donor, comprising the steps of:

• isolating cells from said patient,
• expanding said cells in vitro, in the presence of an agent which slows the replicative senescence of said cells, and
• introducing said cells after expanding into a patient.

Method for the treatment of AIDS comprising the following steps:

• removing CD4+ cells from patient when AIDS is first detected, storing said CD4+ cells, and
• reintroducing cells to said patient at a time when patient's CD4+ cells are limiting.

Method for identifying a bone marrow stem cell comprising the step of:

• detecting telomerase activity in a potential said cell, wherein the presence of said activity is indicative of the presence of said cell.

Method for determining telomere length in a chromosome, comprising the step of:

• extending the end of a chromosome with a defined oligonucleotide, annealing a primer to the junction formed between said defined oligonucleotide and the end of said chromosome, and extending said primer to produce an extension product;
• wherein the length of said extension product is a measure of said telomere length.