If stem cell telomeres shorten beyond a critical threshold during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which consequence becomes most likely?

💡 Explanation

Telomere shortening leads to cellular senescence or apoptosis when telomeres reach a critical length. Because HSCT relies on stem cell proliferation to replenish blood cells, critically shortened telomeres impair this proliferation, therefore bone marrow failure occurs, rather than enhanced immune function or improved cellular processes.

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