In agreement with this idea, mutations in the human telomerase RNP, such as some in the telomerase reverse transcriptase protein (hTERT), lead to telomere shortening, premature senescence, and the development of several premature aging diseases, including dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Here, RNPC3 is linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.