Lung diseases like emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis are common among people with malfunctioning telomeres, the ‘caps’ or ends of chromosomes. Now, researchers from Johns Hopkins University say they have discovered what goes wrong and why.  The team report that some stem cells vital to lung cell oxygenation undergo premature aging, and stop dividing and proliferating, when their telomeres are defective. The stem cells are those … Continue reading Premature aging of stem cell telomeres, not inflammation, linked to emphysema.