端粒构成真核生物染色体的末端,其主要功能是维持染色体的稳定。端粒酶通过合成端粒的重复序列以阻止端粒的缩短。端粒的长度和端粒酶的活性与细胞的衰老、死亡和癌变有关。本文对端粒和端粒酶的结构与功能、它们的亚单位在免疫应答中的变化和这些变化在乙型肝炎、肝硬化及肝癌发病中的作用等进行了综述。 Telomere constitutes the end of eukaryotic chromosomes whose main function is to maintain chromosome stability. Telomerase prevents telomere shortening by synthesizing telomeric repeats. Telomere length and telomerase activity are associated with cell senescence, death, and canceration. This review summarizes the structure and function of telomere and telomerase, the changes of their subunits in the immune response and their roles in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.