Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are hematopoietic stem cell disorders with a high potential to develop into acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We have recently demonstrated that naïve T cells, but not memory T cells, from MDS patients exhibit a pronounced deficiency in the mRNA coding for the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT). We discuss the importance of this finding for lymphocytic homeostasis in MDS patients.