Telomeres Length in Israeli Fibrotic ILD Patients

genomic DNA (2-5 µg) is digested overnight at 37°C with HinfI restriction endonuclease. Fragments are being separated on an agarose gel, transferred to a Hybond N+ membrane. The membrane is being hybridized over night at 50°C with a 5' end-labeled (AACCCT)3 oligonucleotide probe and with ladder probe of 1Kb ladder. Following membrane washes the membrane is exposed to PhosphoImager. The mean telomere length is calculated by the computer program Telotool \[19-20\]. TRF analysis will be conducted at the laboratory of Prof. Yehuda Tzfati at the Hebrew University, which is highly experienced in the field of telomere biology and in telomere length analysis. Blood samples will be taken once from each participant. no genetic sequencing will be performed as part of this study.