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Vrettou M, Lager S, Toffoletto S, Iliadis SI, Kallak TK, Agnafors S, Nieratschker V, Skalkidou A, Comasco E. Peripartum depression symptom trajectories, telomere length and genotype, and adverse childhood experiences. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:661. [PMID: 39379870 PMCID: PMC11462957 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-06115-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a biological marker for cellular senescence, telomere length (TL) has been linked to a variety of psychiatric disorders and adverse childhood experiences (ACE), though only preliminarily to peripartum depression (PPD). The present study sought to examine the association between TL and PPD, assessing the moderating role of ACE and genetic polymorphic variations related with the telomere machinery. METHODS Adversity was self-reported, likewise were depressive symptoms evaluated at pregnancy week 17 and 32, as well as six-weeks and six-months postpartum. TL was assessed by use of qPCR in blood samples collected during delivery from females with antenatal depression resolving postpartum, females with depression persisting to postpartum, and healthy controls. Twenty haplotype-tagging Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) and three in the Telomerase RNA Component (TERC) genes were genotyped. RESULTS TL was negatively correlated with severity of PPD symptoms at pregnancy week 32 and postpartum week 6. PPD was associated with shorter TL. Lastly, ACE, but not the TERT/TERC genotype, moderated the TL-trajectory association; with increasing ACE, individuals with persistent PPD symptoms had shorter TL, whereas the opposite pattern (longer TL) was observed in the controls. CONCLUSIONS The findings contribute to further understanding of PPD underpinnings, suggesting a negative relationship with TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vrettou
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 593, Uppsala, 751 24, Sweden
| | - Susanne Lager
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Simone Toffoletto
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 593, Uppsala, 751 24, Sweden
| | - Stavros I Iliadis
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Sara Agnafors
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Children's and Women's Health, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Vanessa Nieratschker
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical University Hospital Tübingen, German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alkistis Skalkidou
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erika Comasco
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 593, Uppsala, 751 24, Sweden.
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Zheng YL, Wu X, Williams M, Verhulst S, Lin J, Takahashi Y, Ma JX, Wang Y. High-throughput single telomere analysis using DNA microarray and fluorescent in situ hybridization. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae812. [PMID: 39291738 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The human telomere system is highly dynamic. Both short and long leucocyte average telomere lengths (aTL) are associated with an increased risk of cancer and early death, illustrating the complex relationship between TL and human health and the importance of assessing TL distributions with single TL analysis. A DNA microarray and telomere fluorescent in situ hybridization (DNA-array-FISH) approach was developed to measure the base-pair (bp) lengths of single telomeres. On average 32000 telomeres were measured per DNA sample with one microarray chip assaying 96 test DNA samples. Various telomere parameters, i.e. aTL and the frequency of short/long telomeres, were computed to delineate TL distribution. The intra-assay and inter-assay coefficient of variations of aTL ranged from 1.37% to 3.98%. The correlation coefficient (r) of aTL in repeated measurements ranged from 0.91 to 1.00, demonstrating high measurement precision. aTLs measured by DNA-array-FISH predicted aTLs measured by terminal restriction fragment (TRF) analysis with r ranging 0.87-0.99. A new accurate and high-throughput method has been developed to measure the bp lengths of single telomeres. The large number of single TL data provides an opportunity for an in-depth analysis of telomere dynamics and the complex relationship between telomere and age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ling Zheng
- Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Xingjia Wu
- Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Madeline Williams
- Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Yusuke Takahashi
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest School of Medicine, NC 27157, USA
| | - Jian-Xing Ma
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest School of Medicine, NC 27157, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- TelohealthDx, LLC, Clarksburg, MD 20871, USA
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3
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Wang J, Han X, Yang Y, Zeng Y, Qu Y, Yang H, Song J, Qiu C, Song H. The association of psychological and trauma-related factors with biological and facial aging acceleration: evidence from the UK Biobank. BMC Med 2024; 22:359. [PMID: 39227814 PMCID: PMC11373276 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03578-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychological and trauma-related factors are associated with many diseases and mortality. However, a comprehensive assessment of the association between psycho-trauma exposures and aging acceleration is currently lacking. METHODS Using data from 332,359 UK Biobank participants, we calculated biological aging acceleration, indexed by the presence of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) deviation (i.e., the difference between genetically determined and observed LTL > 0). The acceleration of facial aging (i.e., looking older than the chronological age) was assessed using a self-report question. Then, we estimated the associations of each psycho-trauma factor with biological and facial aging acceleration, using logistic regression models adjusted for multiple important covariates. Furthermore, restricted to 99,180 participants with complete psychological and trauma-related data, we identified clusters of individuals with distinct psycho-trauma patterns using the latent class analysis method and assessed their associations with aging acceleration using similar models. RESULTS We observed most of the studied psycho-trauma factors were associated with biological and facial aging acceleration. Compared to the "Absence of trauma and psychopathology" cluster, the "adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with psychopathology" cluster showed strong associations with those aging measurements (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13 [1.05 - 1.23] for biological and 1.52 [1.18 - 1.95] for facial aging acceleration), while no such association was observed for the "ACEs without psychopathology" cluster (1.04 [0.99 - 1.09] and 1.02 [0.84 - 1.24]. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated significant associations of psycho-trauma factors with both biological and facial aging acceleration. The differential aging consequences observed among ACEs exposed individuals with and without psychopathology prompt interventions aimed to improve individuals' psychological resilience to prevent aging acceleration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junren Wang
- Mental Health Center and West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guo Xue Lane 37, Chengdu, China
- Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Han
- Mental Health Center and West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guo Xue Lane 37, Chengdu, China
- Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao Yang
- Mental Health Center and West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guo Xue Lane 37, Chengdu, China
- Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Zeng
- Mental Health Center and West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guo Xue Lane 37, Chengdu, China
- Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuanyuan Qu
- Mental Health Center and West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guo Xue Lane 37, Chengdu, China
- Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huazhen Yang
- Mental Health Center and West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guo Xue Lane 37, Chengdu, China
- Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Song
- Mental Health Center and West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guo Xue Lane 37, Chengdu, China
- Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Changjian Qiu
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Huan Song
- Mental Health Center and West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guo Xue Lane 37, Chengdu, China.
- Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Center of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
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4
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Ashe JJ, Evans MK, Zonderman AB, Waldstein SR. Absent Relations of Religious Coping to Telomere Length in African American and White Women and Men. Exp Aging Res 2024; 50:459-481. [PMID: 37258109 PMCID: PMC10687320 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2023.2219187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study investigated whether race and sex moderated the relations of religious coping to telomere length (TL), a biomarker of cellular aging implicated in race-related health disparities. METHODS Participant data were drawn from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study, which included 252 socioeconomically diverse African American and White men and women aged (30-64 years old). Cross-sectional multivariable regression analyses examined interactive associations of religious coping, race, and sex to TL, adjusting for other sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS Religious coping was unrelated to TL in this sample (p's > .05). There were no notable race or sex differences. Post hoc exploratory analyses similarly found that neither secular social support coping use nor substance use coping was associated with TL. CONCLUSION There was no evidence to support that religious coping use provided protective effects to TL in this sample of African American and White women and men. Nevertheless, future studies should use more comprehensive assessments of religious coping and intersectional identities to provide an in-depth examination of religiosity/spirituality as a potential culturally salient protective factor in cellular aging among African Americans in the context of specific chronic stressors such as discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J. Ashe
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, US
| | - Michele K. Evans
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, US
| | - Alan B. Zonderman
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, US
| | - Shari R. Waldstein
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, US
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, US
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5
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Taylor JY, Barcelona V, Magny-Normilus C, Wright ML, Jones-Patten A, Prescott L, Potts-Thompson S, Santos HP. A roadmap for social determinants of health and biological nursing research in the National Institute of Nursing Research 2022-2026 Strategic Plan: Optimizing health and advancing health equity using antiracist framing. Nurs Outlook 2023; 71:102059. [PMID: 37863707 PMCID: PMC10803078 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health equity is essential for improving the well-being of all individuals and groups, and research remains a critical element for understanding barriers to health equity. While considering how to best support research that acknowledges current health challenges, it is crucial to understand the role of social justice frameworks within health equity research and the contributions of minoritized researchers. Additionally, there should be an increased understanding of the influence of social determinants of health on biological mechanisms. PURPOSE Biological health equity research seeks to understand and address health disparities among historically excluded populations. DISCUSSION While there are examples of studies in this area led by minoritized researchers, some individuals and groups remain understudied due to underfunding. Research within minoritized populations must be prioritized to authentically achieve health equity. Furthermore, there should be increased funding from National Institutes of Health to support minoritized researchers working in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn Y Taylor
- Center for Research on People of Color, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY.
| | - Veronica Barcelona
- Center for Research on People of Color, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY
| | | | | | | | - Laura Prescott
- Center for Research on People of Color, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY
| | | | - Hudson P Santos
- School of Nursing & Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
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Ratanatharathorn A, Roberts AL, Chibnik LB, Choi KW, De Vivo I, Kim Y, Nishimi K, Rimm EB, Sumner JA, Kubzansky LD, Koenen KC. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Accelerated Aging: Leukocyte Telomere Length in the Nurses' Health Study II. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:510-518. [PMID: 37519465 PMCID: PMC10382693 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression have been independently associated with leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a cellular marker of aging associated with mortality and age-related diseases. However, the joint contributions of trauma and its psychological sequelae on LTL have not been examined. Methods We conducted an analysis of LTL in a subset of women from the Nurses' Health Study II (N = 1868). Lifetime exposure to traumatic events, PTSD, and depression was assessed with validated measures. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and telomere repeat copy number to single gene copy number was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction telomere assay. Linear regression models assessed the association of trauma, PTSD, and depression with LTL after adjustment for health behaviors and medical conditions. Results Trauma, PTSD, and depression were not independently associated with LTL in mutually adjusted models. However, individuals with severe psychological distress-characterized by comorbid PTSD and depression-had shorter LTL equivalent to being 7.62 years older (95% CI, 0.02 to 17.97) than participants who had never experienced a traumatic event and were not depressed. Further examination found only an association among individuals with the highest number of PTSD symptoms and comorbid depression equivalent to 9.71 additional years of aging (95% CI, 1.36 to 20.49). No effect was found among individuals meeting the minimum threshold for probable PTSD with comorbid depression. Conclusions Severe psychological distress, as indicated by the presence of comorbid PTSD and depression, may be associated with shorter LTL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Ratanatharathorn
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrea L. Roberts
- Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lori B. Chibnik
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Karmel W. Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yongjoo Kim
- College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kristen Nishimi
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, California
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Eric B. Rimm
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jennifer A. Sumner
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Laura D. Kubzansky
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Karestan C. Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Selvarajah S, Corona Maioli S, Deivanayagam TA, de Morais Sato P, Devakumar D, Kim SS, Wells JC, Yoseph M, Abubakar I, Paradies Y. Racism, xenophobia, and discrimination: mapping pathways to health outcomes. Lancet 2022; 400:2109-2124. [PMID: 36502849 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)02484-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Despite being globally pervasive, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination are not universally recognised determinants of health. We challenge widespread beliefs related to the inevitability of increased mortality and morbidity associated with particular ethnicities and minoritised groups. In refuting that racial categories have a genetic basis and acknowledging that socioeconomic factors offer incomplete explanations in understanding these health disparities, we examine the pathways by which discrimination based on caste, ethnicity, Indigeneity, migratory status, race, religion, and skin colour affect health. Discrimination based on these categories, although having many unique historical and cultural contexts, operates in the same way, with overlapping pathways and health effects. We synthesise how such discrimination affects health systems, spatial determination, and communities, and how these processes manifest at the individual level, across the life course, and intergenerationally. We explore how individuals respond to and internalise these complex mechanisms psychologically, behaviourally, and physiologically. The evidence shows that racism, xenophobia, and discrimination affect a range of health outcomes across all ages around the world, and remain embedded within the universal challenges we face, from COVID-19 to the climate emergency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujitha Selvarajah
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK; St George's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | | | - Thilagawathi Abi Deivanayagam
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK; Lancaster Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | | | - Delan Devakumar
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Seung-Sup Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jonathan C Wells
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Marcella Yoseph
- Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Ibrahim Abubakar
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Yin Paradies
- Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University, Melbourne VIC, Australia
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Woo JMP, Parks CG, Hyde EE, Auer PL, Simanek AM, Konkel RH, Taylor J, Sandler DP, Meier HCS. Early life trauma and adult leucocyte telomere length. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 144:105876. [PMID: 35939862 PMCID: PMC9446387 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length, a biomarker of cell division and cellular aging, has been associated with multiple chronic disease endpoints. Experienced trauma over the life course may contribute to telomere shortening via mechanisms of stress embodiment. However, it is unclear how patterns of co-occurring trauma during sensitive periods (e.g., early life) throughout the life course may influence telomere shortening. We examine the relationship between co-occurring early life trauma on adult telomere length and the extent to which adulthood trauma, socioeconomic position, and health and lifestyle factors may mediate this relationship. METHODS We use data from a sample of participants in the Sister Study (N = 740, analytic sample: n = 602), a prospective cohort of U.S. self-identified females aged 35-74 years at enrollment (2003-2009) for whom leukocyte telomere length was measured in baseline blood samples. Participants reported their experience of 20 different types of trauma, from which we identified patterns of co-occurring early life trauma (before age 18) using latent class analysis. We estimated the direct and indirect effects of early life trauma on leukocyte telomere length using structural equation modeling, allowing for mediating adult pathways. RESULTS Approximately 47 % of participants reported early life trauma. High early life trauma was associated with shorter telomere length compared to low early life trauma (β = -0.11; 95 % CI: -0.22, -0.004) after adjusting for age and childhood socioeconomic position. The inverse association between early life trauma and adult leukocyte telomere length was largely attributable to the direct effect of early life trauma on telomere length (β = -0.12; 95 %CI: -0.23, -0.01). Mediating indirect pathways via adult trauma, socioeconomic position, and health metrics did not substantively contribute the overall association. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the role of patterns of co-occurring early life trauma on shortened telomere length independent of adult pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M P Woo
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1240 N. 10th Street, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Christine G Parks
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Emily E Hyde
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1240 N. 10th Street, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Wisconsin Population Health Fellowship, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 610 Walnut Street, 575 WARF, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Paul L Auer
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1240 N. 10th Street, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Amanda M Simanek
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1240 N. 10th Street, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Rebecca H Konkel
- Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2400 E. Hartford Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Jack Taylor
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Helen C S Meier
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1240 N. 10th Street, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson St, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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9
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Chen XY, Lo CKM, Chan KL, Leung WC, Ip P. Association between Childhood Exposure to Family Violence and Telomere Length: A Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191912151. [PMID: 36231453 PMCID: PMC9566190 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The aims of this meta-analysis were to examine the association between childhood exposure to family violence and telomere length and the moderating variables that influence this association. Relevant works published on or before 1st September 2022 were identified through a search in five major databases in English and 19 articles (N = 18,977) finally met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was conducted to compute the pooled effect size (correlation; r), and moderator analyses were performed using a random effects meta-analytic model. The studies yielded a significant inverse association between childhood exposure to family violence and telomere length, with a small effect size (r = -0.038, 95% CI [-0.070, -0.005], p = 0.025). Furthermore, the strength of this association was stronger in studies examining the co-occurrence of multiple types of violence than in those examining just one type (Q = 8.143, p = 0.004). These findings suggested that victims' telomere length may be negatively influenced by childhood exposure to family violence and that such impairment appears to be stronger for those who are exposed to multiple types of violence. Future studies are necessary to examine the moderating and mediating factors underlying the association between childhood exposure to family violence and telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yan Chen
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | - Camilla K. M. Lo
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
- Correspondence: (C.K.M.L.); (K.L.C.); Tel.: +852-2766-5760 (C.K.M.L.); +852-2766-5709 (K.L.C.)
| | - Ko Ling Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
- Correspondence: (C.K.M.L.); (K.L.C.); Tel.: +852-2766-5760 (C.K.M.L.); +852-2766-5709 (K.L.C.)
| | - Wing Cheong Leung
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Kwong Wah Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Patrick Ip
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
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10
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Coimbra BM, Carvalho CM, van Zuiden M, Williamson RE, Ota VK, Mello AF, Belangero SI, Olff M, Mello MF. The impact of neighborhood context on telomere length: A systematic review. Health Place 2022; 74:102746. [PMID: 35123384 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of research demonstrates the association between neighborhood context and health. The underlying biological mechanisms of this association are not fully understood. We conducted a systematic review of studies that investigated the association between neighborhood context and telomere length (TL), a DNA-protein complex that shortens after cell division. Short TL is linked to age-related diseases and may be impacted by chronic stress. Nineteen eligible articles identified through PubMed and Scopus met inclusion criteria. Results demonstrated inconsistent support for the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and short TL. However, findings across several studies provide evidence for an inverse association between perceived neighborhood problems and TL, suggesting that TL may be an important factor in understanding health vulnerabilities associated specifically with negative perceptions of the neighborhood context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Messina Coimbra
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Program for Research and Care on Violence and PTSD (PROVE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Carolina Muniz Carvalho
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; LiNC - Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mirjam van Zuiden
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Vanessa Kiyomi Ota
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; LiNC - Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andrea Feijó Mello
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Program for Research and Care on Violence and PTSD (PROVE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sintia Iole Belangero
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; LiNC - Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Miranda Olff
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, the Netherlands
| | - Marcelo Feijó Mello
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Program for Research and Care on Violence and PTSD (PROVE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
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11
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Pereira MA, Araújo A, Simões M, Costa C. Influence of Psychological Factors in Breast and Lung Cancer Risk - A Systematic Review. Front Psychol 2022; 12:769394. [PMID: 35046872 PMCID: PMC8762112 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.769394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In 2020, according to the Global Cancer Observatory, nearly 10 million people died of cancer. Amongst all cancers, breast cancer had the highest number of new cases and lung cancer had the highest number of deaths. Even though the literatures suggest a possible connection between psychological factors and cancer risk, their association throughout studies remains inconclusive. The present systematic review studied the connection between psychological factors and the risk of breast and lung cancer, prior to a cancer diagnosis. The psychological factors of trauma, grief, and depression were studied. Methods: The current systematic review was carried out across multiple databases in two phases, an initial exploratory research in June 2020, refined with a second electronic research in December 2020. The inclusion criteria included studies describing the association between trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief, and depression with breast and lung cancer risk. The psychological data collection must have been carried out prior to a confirmed breast or lung cancer diagnosis, and accessed through self-report measures, questionnaires, clinical interviews, or clinical diagnoses. Study reports had to contain information about the incidence of cancer and effect size. The exclusion criteria were studies in which psychological factors were collected after cancer diagnosis. Results and Conclusion: A total of 26 studies were included. Although non-consensual, the findings from the present systematic review suggest that, in addition to the known risk factors, psychological factors may play an important role in the etiology of both breast and lung cancer. To include psychological factors as a variable that affects cancer development may be fundamental to opening new avenues for prevention and intervention. Systematic Review Registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [CRD42020209161].
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Affiliation(s)
| | - António Araújo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mário Simões
- Laboratory of Mind-Matter Interaction with Therapeutic Intention, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
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Clinical Measures of Allostatic Load in Children and Adolescents with Food Allergy, Depression, or Anxiety. J Pediatr Nurs 2021; 61:346-354. [PMID: 34555747 PMCID: PMC8665031 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Sustained high stress exposure results in chronic activation of the stress response system, dysregulated stress responses, high allostatic load, and poor later-life health. Children and adolescents with chronic health conditions face stressors related to their condition in addition to those typical of childhood and adolescence, placing them at risk of high allostatic load. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to examine whether youth with chronic health conditions differ from controls on clinical measures of allostatic load. DESIGN AND METHODS A secondary analysis of two datasets, the electronic health record of a tertiary children's hospital and data from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin, compared youth with chronic health conditions to controls on clinical measures of allostatic load. Additional analyses explored whether parental stress and mental health influenced these relationships. RESULTS Analyses identified differences in BMI, blood pressure, and waist circumference between youth with food allergy, anxiety, or depression, and controls. These relationships differed for males and females and for those with comorbid mental and physical conditions, and were influenced by parent stress and mental health. CONCLUSIONS Results support future studies exploring whether high stress in youth with chronic health conditions leads to increased allostatic load. Incorporating biomarkers as well as genetic and epigenetic factors will provide critical insights. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Youth with mental and physical CHCs may be at increased risk of high allostatic load, reflected in clinical measures of metabolism, and should have regular assessments of their metabolic health.
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13
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Fritz MM, Walsh LC, Cole SW, Epel E, Lyubomirsky S. Kindness and cellular aging: A pre-registered experiment testing the effects of prosocial behavior on telomere length and well-being. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 11:100187. [PMID: 34589726 PMCID: PMC8474583 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Prosocial behavior can improve psychological well-being and physical health. However, the underlying biological mechanisms that mediate the relationship between prosociality and health remain unclear. In this pre-registered experiment, we tested whether a 4-week kindness intervention could slow leukocyte telomere shortening and increase well-being. Methods Community adults (N = 230) were randomly assigned to complete 1 of 3 activities, each week for 4 weeks: to perform 3 kind acts for other people, to perform 3 kind acts for themselves, or to list daily activities. At baseline and post-intervention, participants came to the lab to provide a small dried blood spot (DBS) sample via finger prick for analysis of telomere length. Participants completed psychological measures (e.g., loneliness, life satisfaction) at baseline, post-intervention, and at the 2-week follow up. Results Participants who performed kind acts for others did not demonstrate hypothesized changes in well-being, nor in telomere length, relative to controls. Exploratory analyses revealed that, relative to controls, participants who did kind acts for others showed reductions in loneliness through the 2-week follow up. Conclusions The salubrious effects of prosocial behavior in the short term are not likely due to the inhibition of cellular aging (at least as indexed by telomere length). However, extending kindness to others holds promise as a future research direction for interventions to alleviate loneliness. Prosocial behavior is associated with better health, but mechanisms remain unclear. We report a pre-registered investigation of prosocial behavior and telomere length. A 4-week prosocial behavior intervention did not slow rates of telomere shortening. Performing prosocial behavior for others was linked with reductions in loneliness. Prosocial behavior may reduce loneliness but does not appear to impact telomeres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Fritz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Lisa C Walsh
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Steven W Cole
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elissa Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sonja Lyubomirsky
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
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Needham BL, Straight B, Hilton CE, Olungah CO, Lin J. Family socioeconomic status and child telomere length among the Samburu of Kenya. Soc Sci Med 2021; 283:114182. [PMID: 34225037 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Previous research in high-income countries suggests that children from families with lower socioeconomic status (SES) tend to have shorter telomere length - a biomarker of stress and cell aging - than children from families with greater social and economic resources. However, little is known about predictors of child telomere length in low-income settings. Data for the current study are from a sample of 214 Samburu children aged 1-9 years. The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists who live in the Rift Valley of north-central Kenya. Samburu livelihood is based primarily on livestock, and polygynous marriage is common. Drawing on prior ethnographic research, we measured 14 culturally relevant indicators of family SES, including mother's education, head of household's education, whether the child is currently attending school, household spending, mother's employment history, head of household's employment history, mother's perceived wealth, whether the child lives in a modern house, livestock holdings (total, cows, sheep/goats, and camels), mother's wife number, and whether the child lives in a polygynous household. Telomere length was measured in salivary DNA by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. Using latent class analysis, we identified four groups of children that are similar based on the 14 indicators of family SES: Lower SES; Middle SES, Traditional; Middle SES, Modern; and Higher SES. SES classes were not significantly associated with child telomere length. In models examining individual indicators of SES, we found that telomere length was 0.57 standard deviations greater for children who lived in families in the lowest quartile of total livestock holdings compared to those in the highest quartile (b = 0.57, p = 0.03). While additional research is needed to identify the mechanisms underlying this counterintuitive finding, the current study highlights the importance of cultural context in shaping the social gradient in health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda L Needham
- Department of Epidemiology and Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan, USA.
| | - Bilinda Straight
- Department of Gender and Women's Studies, Western Michigan University, USA
| | - Charles E Hilton
- Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
| | | | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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15
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Sun QH, Liu ZJ, Zhang L, Wei H, Song LJ, Zhu SW, He MB, Duan LP. Sex-based differences in fecal short-chain fatty acid and gut microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome patients. J Dig Dis 2021; 22:246-255. [PMID: 33822477 PMCID: PMC8252430 DOI: 10.1111/1751-2980.12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore alterations in fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and gut microbiota in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel disease (IBS-D) and their relationships with clinical manifestations. METHODS We recruited 162 patients with IBS-D and 66 healthy controls (HC). Their manifestations and psychological status were evaluated using the IBS severity scoring system and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Colorectal visceral sensitivity was evaluated using a barostat. Systemic inflammation was evaluated using plasma cytokine levels. Fecal SCFA were quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and fecal microbiota communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. RESULTS More men presented with IBS-D than women in our patient cohort. Patients with IBS-D had more severe manifestations, higher HADS score, and a higher rate of previous infectious enteritis than HC. Notably, female patients had significantly higher HADS scores than male patients. Male patients had significantly higher levels of plasma interleukin (IL)-12, fecal propionate and colorectal visceral sensitivity than male HC, while no differences were observed between female patients and female HC. Fecal acetate, butyrate and valerate correlated with the initial visceral sensory threshold, stressors, and IL-10 and IL-12 levels. The propionate-producing Prevotella 9 genus was significantly increased in male patients and positively correlated with fecal propionate. CONCLUSION Distinct sex-based differences in clinical manifestations, fecal SCFA and microbiota richness are found in Chinese patients with IBS-D, which may be used to diagnose dysbiosis in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Hua Sun
- Department of GastroenterologyPeking University Third HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Zuo Jing Liu
- Department of GastroenterologyPeking University Third HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of GastroenterologyPeking University Third HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Hui Wei
- Department of GastroenterologyPeking University Third HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Li Jin Song
- Department of GastroenterologyPeking University Third HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Shi Wei Zhu
- Department of GastroenterologyPeking University Third HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Mei Bo He
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, School of Basic Medical SciencesPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Li Ping Duan
- Department of GastroenterologyPeking University Third HospitalBeijingChina
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Yudin NS, Belyavskaya VA, Maksimov VN, Ivanoshchuk DE, Orlov PS, Voevoda MI. Association between leukocyte telomere length and specific antibody levels after vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2020. [DOI: 10.18699/vj19.580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- N. S. Yudin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS; Novosibirsk State University; Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine
| | - V. A. Belyavskaya
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector” of the Federal Service for Surveillance in Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being
| | - V. N. Maksimov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS; Novosibirsk State University; Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine
| | - D. E. Ivanoshchuk
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS; Novosibirsk State University; Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine
| | - P. S. Orlov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS; Novosibirsk State University; Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine
| | - M. I. Voevoda
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS; Novosibirsk State University; Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine
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Biological embedding of maternal postpartum depressive symptoms: The potential role of cortisol and telomere length. Biol Psychol 2019; 150:107809. [PMID: 31734351 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2019.107809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Although maternal postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) are associated with child behavior problems, the underlying biological mechanisms are poorly understood. Thus, the current study focused on 193 healthy mother-child dyads and investigated child cortisol and telomere length as potential mediating factors. At 3 and 6 months postpartum, mothers reported on PDS. At age 6, children provided saliva and buccal swab samples. At age 10, mothers and children reported on child behavior problems. Structural equation modelling revealed (a) no association between PDS and child behavior problems and thus no possibility of mediation, but that (b) lower cortisol forecast more child-reported internalizing problems, and (c) shorter telomere length predicted more child-reported internalizing and externalizing problems. These findings raise mediational questions about the determinants of these biomarkers.
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Konečná K, Lyčka M, Nohelová L, Petráková M, Fňašková M, Koriťáková E, Sováková PP, Brabencová S, Preiss M, Rektor I, Fajkus J, Fojtová M. Holocaust history is not reflected in telomere homeostasis in survivors and their offspring. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 117:7-14. [PMID: 31255955 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres, nucleoprotein structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, are crucial for the maintenance of genome integrity. While the lengths of telomeres at birth are determined genetically, many factors including environmental and living conditions affect the telomere lengths during a lifespan. In this context, extreme and long-term stress has been shown to negatively impact telomeres and their protective function, with even offspring being influenced by the stress experienced by parents. Using quantitative PCR, the relative lengths of telomeres of survivors of the Holocaust during World War II and two generations of their offspring were analyzed. These data were related to those of control groups, persons of comparable age without a strong life stress experience. In contrast to previous studies of other stress-exposed groups, the relative lengths of telomeres were comparable in groups of persons exposed to Holocaust-related stress and their progenies, and in control groups. Interestingly, shorter telomeres of Holocaust survivors of the age under 12 in the year 1945 compared to Holocaust survivors of the age above 12 were detected. Our results are discussed with respect to certain exceptionality of persons having been able to cope with an extreme stress more than 70 years ago and living to a very old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klára Konečná
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lyčka
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Nohelová
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Petráková
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Fňašková
- Brain and Mind Research, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Koriťáková
- Brain and Mind Research, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Polanská Sováková
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sylva Brabencová
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Preiss
- Brain and Mind Research, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health and University of New York in Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Rektor
- Brain and Mind Research, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Fajkus
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miloslava Fojtová
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
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19
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Socio-Economic Position Under the Microscope: Getting ‘Under the Skin’ and into the Cells. CURR EPIDEMIOL REP 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40471-019-00217-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Cañadas-Garre M, Anderson K, Cappa R, Skelly R, Smyth LJ, McKnight AJ, Maxwell AP. Genetic Susceptibility to Chronic Kidney Disease - Some More Pieces for the Heritability Puzzle. Front Genet 2019; 10:453. [PMID: 31214239 PMCID: PMC6554557 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health problem with an increasing prevalence partly driven by aging population structure. Both genomic and environmental factors contribute to this complex heterogeneous disease. CKD heritability is estimated to be high (30-75%). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and GWAS meta-analyses have identified several genetic loci associated with CKD, including variants in UMOD, SHROOM3, solute carriers, and E3 ubiquitin ligases. However, these genetic markers do not account for all the susceptibility to CKD, and the causal pathways remain incompletely understood; other factors must be contributing to the missing heritability. Less investigated biological factors such as telomere length; mitochondrial proteins, encoded by nuclear genes or specific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encoded genes; structural variants, such as copy number variants (CNVs), insertions, deletions, inversions and translocations are poorly covered and may explain some of the missing heritability. The sex chromosomes, often excluded from GWAS studies, may also help explain gender imbalances in CKD. In this review, we outline recent findings on molecular biomarkers for CKD (telomeres, CNVs, mtDNA variants, sex chromosomes) that typically have received less attention than gene polymorphisms. Shorter telomere length has been associated with renal dysfunction and CKD progression, however, most publications report small numbers of subjects with conflicting findings. CNVs have been linked to congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, posterior urethral valves, nephronophthisis and immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Information on mtDNA biomarkers for CKD comes primarily from case reports, therefore the data are scarce and diverse. The most consistent finding is the A3243G mutation in the MT-TL1 gene, mainly associated with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Only one GWAS has found associations between X-chromosome and renal function (rs12845465 and rs5987107). No loci in the Y-chromosome have reached genome-wide significance. In conclusion, despite the efforts to find the genetic basis of CKD, it remains challenging to explain all of the heritability with currently available methods and datasets. Although additional biomarkers have been investigated in less common suspects such as telomeres, CNVs, mtDNA and sex chromosomes, hidden heritability in CKD remains elusive, and more comprehensive approaches, particularly through the integration of multiple -"omics" data, are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Cañadas-Garre
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Kerry Anderson
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Ruaidhri Cappa
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan Skelly
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Jane Smyth
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Amy Jayne McKnight
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Peter Maxwell
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- Regional Nephrology Unit, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, United Kingdom
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Kim H, Cho SJ, Yoo SH, Kim SH, Ahn YM. Association between telomere length and completed suicide observed in 71 suicide victims - Preliminary findings. J Psychosom Res 2019; 120:8-11. [PMID: 30929712 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Telomere length has emerged as a cumulative marker for lifestyle, psychosocial stress, and cytotoxic environments. We aimed to examine the possible association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and completed suicide. METHODS This study included 71 suicide completers and 117 healthy controls for whom LTL was determined by the ratio of the telomere repeat copy number to the single-copy gene copy number (T/S ratio). We compared the LTL between the suicide completers and the healthy controls and estimated the odds ratio (OR) for suicide for each age group, applying a generalized estimating equation (GEE). RESULTS LTL was significantly shortened in the suicide completers as compared with the controls, overall subjects, or within-age categories (≤29 and 30-49 years). Furthermore, a longer LTL was associated with significantly decreased odds of completed suicide for those aged ≤29 years and 30-49 years (OR = 0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03-0.37, p < .001 for the ≤29-year age group; OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.34-0.84, p = .006 for the 30- to 49-year age group). CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence regarding the relationship between shortened LTL and completed suicide, especially in those aged <50 years. Future research should further assess potential confounders and examine underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeyoung Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Inha University Hospital, 27 Inhang-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Joon Cho
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Ho Yoo
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine,103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Se Hyun Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong Min Ahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
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Gomez-Bernal F, Madva EN, Puckett J, Amonoo HL, Millstein RA, Huffman JC. Relationships Between Life Stressors, Health Behaviors, and Chronic Medical Conditions in Mid-Life Adults: A Narrative Review. PSYCHOSOMATICS 2019; 60:153-163. [DOI: 10.1016/j.psym.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Willis M, Staudinger UM, Factor-Litvak P, Calvo E. Stress and Salivary Telomere Length in the Second Half of Life: A Comparison of Life-course Models. ADVANCES IN LIFE COURSE RESEARCH 2019; 39:34-41. [PMID: 31186623 PMCID: PMC6557584 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcr.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Background Previous research has explored the relationship between childhood and adulthood stressful life events (SLEs) and adult salivary telomere length (TL), but no research to date has tested different life-course models in which stress in adulthood may fully, partly, or not mediate the relationship between childhood stress and adult TL. Methods To fill this gap, we elaborate over previous work by Puterman et al. (2016) and other standard models that do not account for the temporal order of stressors in childhood and adulthood, by using structural equation modeling (SEM) for a sample of 5,754 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) participants to compare the fit of three nested life-course models-social trajectory, early critical period, and cumulative risk. Results Results indicated that the social trajectory model, in which the association between childhood SLEs and TL in later adulthood is fully mediated by adulthood SLEs, fit the data better than the early critical period (no mediation) and cumulative risk (partial mediation) models. Conclusion In the social trajectory model, childhood SLEs are related to TL in later life only through adulthood SLEs. The direct physiological effect of childhood SLEs on TL in later life would be overestimated if adulthood SLEs are overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Willis
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
| | - Ursula M. Staudinger
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
| | - Pam Factor-Litvak
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
| | - Esteban Calvo
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University
- Society and Health Research Center, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad Mayor
- Laboratory on Aging and Social Epidemiology, Universidad Mayor
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Lin J, Smith DL, Esteves K, Drury S. Telomere length measurement by qPCR - Summary of critical factors and recommendations for assay design. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 99:271-278. [PMID: 30343983 PMCID: PMC6363640 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Research in the last decade has explored the length of telomeres, the protective ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, as a biomarker for the cumulative effects of environmental exposures and life experiences as well as a risk factor for major diseases. With a growing interest in telomere biology across biomedical, epidemiological and public health research, it is critical to ensure that the measurement of telomere length is performed with high precision and accuracy. Of the several major methods utilized to determine telomere length, quantitative PCR (qPCR) remains the most cost-effective and suitable method for large-scale epidemiological and population studies. However, inconsistencies in recent reports utilizing the qPCR method highlight the need for a careful methodological analysis of each step of this process. In this review, we summarize each critical step in qPCR telomere length assay, including sample type selection, sample collection, storage, processing issues and assay procedures. We provide guidance and recommendations for each step based on current knowledge. It is clear that a collaborative and rigorous effort is needed to characterize and resolve existing issues related to sample storage, both before and after DNA extraction, as well as the impact of different extraction protocols, reagents and post extraction processing across all tissue types (e.g. blood, saliva, buccal swabs, etc.) to provide the needed data upon which best practices for TL analyses can be agreed upon. Additionally, we suggest that the whole telomere research community be invited to collaborate on the development and implementation of standardized protocols for the assay itself as well as for reporting in scientific journals. The existing evidence provides substantial support for the continuation of telomere research across a range of different exposures and health outcomes. However, as with any technological or methodologic advance in science, reproducibility, reliability and rigor need to be established to ensure the highest quality research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, United States.
| | - Dana L. Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, United States
| | - Kyle Esteves
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 70112, United States
| | - Stacy Drury
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, United States
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