Telomerase / telomere lengthening
Khavinson 2003 showed in vitro telomerase upregulation and modest telomere lengthening in human somatic cell cultures with epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly tetrapeptide). The work has been replicated by other Khavinson-group papers. Translation to in vivo human telomere extension has not been demonstrated in any properly controlled trial.
0 human studies · 6 animal studies
Key findings & citations
- Khavinson 2003: dose-dependent hTERT mRNA upregulation in human somatic cell cultures.
- Replicated within the Khavinson group; independent Western replication is sparse.
- No published controlled human trial of in vivo telomere length change.
Top citations
Our take
Mechanistic finding in cell culture. The leap to 'epitalon extends human telomeres' is not what the data shows.




