端粒是存在于线性染色体末端的一段特殊的ＤＮＡ－ 蛋白质复合物，由于末端不能复制，正常体细胞随着细胞分裂的进行而逐渐丢失端粒序列，导致细胞老化和死亡。具有增殖潜能的正常体细胞通过被诱导可以表达端粒酶以补偿端粒序列的丢失，从而保持端粒的长度。许多正常体细胞可以检测到端粒酶活性，并可经诱导后使其水平上调，这对于防治细胞老化具有重要的意义。 Telomeres are a special piece of DNA-protein complex present at the end of linear chromosomes. Due to the inability of the ends to replicate, normal somatic cells gradually lose telomeric sequences as the cells divide, leading to cell aging and death. Normal somatic cells with proliferative potential can be induced to express telomerase to compensate for the loss of telomere sequence and thereby maintain telomere length. Many normal somatic cells can detect telomerase activity, and can be induced to raise its level, which is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of cell aging.