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Nose D, Shiga Y, Takahashi RU, Yamamoto Y, Suematsu Y, Kuwano T, Sugihara M, Kanda M, Tahara H, Miura SI. Association Between Telomere G-Tail Length and Coronary Artery Disease or Statin Treatment in Patients With Cardiovascular Risks - A Cross-Sectional Study. Circ Rep 2023; 5:338-347. [PMID: 37564879 PMCID: PMC10411992 DOI: 10.1253/circrep.cr-23-0038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The utility of telomere G-tail length to predict coronary artery disease (CAD) remains controversial. CAD results from coronary artery narrowing due to cholesterol and lipid accumulation, augmented by inflammatory cells and other factors. This study explored the significance of telomere G-tail length in suspected CAD patients. Methods and Results: In all, 95 patients with suspected CAD or ≥1 cardiac risk factor underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We measured leukocyte telomere length and G-tail length using a hybrid protection method, and diagnosed the presence of CAD using CCTA. Associations between G-tail length and the presence of CAD, the number of stenosed coronary arteries, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were analyzed. No significant difference was observed in G-tail length when comparing groups with or without CAD or statin treatment. However, in the non-statin group, G-tail length was significantly shorter in patients with 3-vessel disease compared with 1-vessel disease. Dividing the group using a baPWV of 1,300 cm/s, telomere G-tail length was significantly shorter in the high-risk (baPWV ≥1,300 cm/s) group. Conclusions: The clinical utility of telomere G-tail length as a CAD risk indicator seems limited. There was a trend for longer telomere G-tail length in the statin-treated group. Moreover, telomere G-tail length was reduced in patients at high-risk of cardiovascular events, aligning with the trend of a shortening in telomere G-tail length with CAD severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Nose
- Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine Fukuoka Japan
| | - Yuhei Shiga
- Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine Fukuoka Japan
| | - Ryou-U Takahashi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Yuki Yamamoto
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Yasunori Suematsu
- Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine Fukuoka Japan
| | - Takashi Kuwano
- Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine Fukuoka Japan
| | - Makoto Sugihara
- Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine Fukuoka Japan
| | - Miyuki Kanda
- Collaborative Laboratory of Liquid Biopsy, Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Tahara
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
- Collaborative Laboratory of Liquid Biopsy, Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
- Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, The Research Center for Drug Development and Biomarker Discovery, Hiroshima University Hiroshima Japan
| | - Shin-Ichiro Miura
- Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine Fukuoka Japan
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Castro-Diehl C, Ehrbar R, Obas V, Oh A, Vasan RS, Xanthakis V. Biomarkers representing key aging-related biological pathways are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and all-cause mortality: The Framingham Study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251308. [PMID: 33989340 PMCID: PMC8121535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased oxidative stress, leukocyte telomere length (LTL) shortening, endothelial dysfunction, and lower insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 concentrations reflect key molecular mechanisms of aging. We hypothesized that biomarkers representing these pathways are associated with measures of subclinical atherosclerosis and all-cause mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS We evaluated up to 2,314 Framingham Offspring Study participants (mean age 61 years, 55% women) with available biomarkers of aging: LTL, circulating concentrations of IGF-1, asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), and urinary F2-Isoprostanes indexed to urinary creatinine. We evaluated the association of each biomarker with coronary artery calcium [ln (CAC+1)] and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). In multivariable-adjusted linear regression models, higher ADMA levels were associated with higher CAC values (βADMA per 1-SD increase 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.11, 0.39]). Additionally, shorter LTL and lower IGF-1 values were associated with higher IMT values (βLTL -0.08, 95%CI -0.14, -0.02, and βIGF-1 -0.04, 95%CI -0.08, -0.01, respectively). During a median follow-up of 15.5 years, 593 subjects died. In multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models, LTL and IGF-1 values were inversely associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratios [HR] per SD increase in biomarker, 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.99, and 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.98 for LTL and IGF-1, respectively). F2-Isoprostanes and ADMA values were positively associated with all-cause mortality (HR per SD increase in biomarker, 1.15, 95% CI, 1.10-1.22, and 1.10, 95% CI, 1.02-1.20, respectively). CONCLUSION In our prospective community-based study, aging-related biomarkers were associated with measures of subclinical atherosclerosis cross-sectionally and with all-cause mortality prospectively, supporting the concept that these biomarkers may reflect the aging process in community-dwelling adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Castro-Diehl
- Department of Medicine, Section of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rachel Ehrbar
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vanesa Obas
- Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Albin Oh
- Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ramachandran S. Vasan
- Department of Medicine, Section of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study, Boston University’s and National Heart, Framingham, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vanessa Xanthakis
- Department of Medicine, Section of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study, Boston University’s and National Heart, Framingham, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Lincoln KD, Nguyen AW. Biopsychosocial Risk Profiles among African American and Non-Hispanic White Adults: Findings from The Health and Retirement Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 77:e82-e88. [PMID: 33406248 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compared to Whites, African Americans have elevated risk for earlier onset fatal and non-fatal chronic conditions and accelerated aging. Despite these persistent race disparities, the causes remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to define a biopsychosocial risk typology that might explain accelerated aging in African Americans. METHODS Analyses were based on the African American and White subsample of the Health and Retirement Study (N=8,269). Latent class analysis was used to identify risk types. Chronic health conditions, salivary telomere length (STL), emotional support from family, negative interaction with family, early life adversities, and discrimination were used as class indicators. Latent class multinomial logistic regression was used to identify racial and demographic differences in risk type membership. RESULTS Three distinct risk types were identified: high risk, health risk, and psychosocial risk. African Americans were more likely than Whites to be assigned to the high risk type characterized by chronic health conditions, shorter STL, strained social relationships and high psychosocial stress. African Americans were less likely than Whites to be assigned to the health risk type characterized by chronic health conditions, shorter STL, optimal social relationships and low psychosocial stress. CONCLUSIONS The biopsychosocial risk typology accounted for population heterogeneity, identified high-risk profiles and modifiable factors within risk types that can inform current clinical interventions. The risk types also revealed different patterns of risk and resilience factors and shed light on the interplay between telomere length, stress exposure, chronic disease and accelerated aging in African Americans.
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Leukocyte telomere length is associated with iron overload in male adults with hereditary hemochromatosis. Biosci Rep 2020; 40:226596. [PMID: 33026063 PMCID: PMC7584811 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20201916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a primary iron overload (IO) condition. Absolute telomere length (ATL) is a marker of cellular aging and DNA damage associated with chronic diseases and mortality. Aim: To evaluate the relationship between ATL and IO in patients with HH. Methods: Cross-sectional study including 25 patients with HH: 8 with IO and 17 without IO (ferritin < 300 ng/ml) and 25 healthy controls. Inclusion criteria were: age > 18 years, male sex and HH diagnosis. Patients with diabetes or other endocrine and autoimmune diseases were excluded. ATL was measured by real-time PCR. Results: HH patients with IO were older (P<0.001) and showed higher ferritin concentration (P<0.001). Patients with HH, disregarding the iron status, showed higher glucose and body mass index (BMI) than controls (both P<0.01). ATL was shorter in patients with IO than controls [with IO: 8 (6–14), without IO: 13 (9–20), and controls: 19 (15–25) kilobase pairs, P<0.01]; with a linear trend within groups (P for trend <0.01). Differences in ATL remained statistically significant after adjusting by age, BMI and glucose (P<0.05). Discussion: Patients with IO featured shorter ATL while patients without IO showed only mild alterations vs. controls. Screening for IO is encouraged to prevent iron-associated cellular damage and early telomere attrition.
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Herrmann W, Herrmann M. The Importance of Telomere Shortening for Atherosclerosis and Mortality. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2020; 7:jcdd7030029. [PMID: 32781553 PMCID: PMC7570376 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd7030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are the protective end caps of chromosomes and shorten with every cell division. Short telomeres are associated with older age and adverse lifestyle factors. Leucocyte telomere length (LTL) has been proposed as a biomarker of biological age. The shortening of LTL with age is the result of the end-replication problem, environmental, and lifestyle-related factors. Epidemiologic studies have shown that LTL predicts cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality, and death from vascular causes. Age appears to be an important co-variate that explains a substantial fraction of this effect. Although it has been proposed that short telomeres promote atherosclerosis and impair the repair of vascular lesions, existing results are inconsistent. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation can both accelerate telomere shortening. Multiple factors, including homocysteine (HCY), vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 modulate oxidative stress and inflammation through direct and indirect mechanisms. This review provides a compact overview of telomere physiology and the utility of LTL measurements in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. In addition, it summarizes existing knowledge regarding the impact of oxidative stress, inflammation, HCY, and B-vitamins on telomere function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Herrmann
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Medical School of the Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Saar, Germany;
| | - Markus Herrmann
- Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +43-316-385-13145; Fax: +43-316-385-13430
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Telomere length and socioeconomic status at neighborhood and individual levels among 80,000 adults in the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging cohort. Environ Epidemiol 2019; 3:e049. [PMID: 33778338 PMCID: PMC7939422 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Telomere length (TL) may serve as a biologic marker of aging. We examined neighborhood and individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) in relation to TL. Methods The study included 84,996 non-Hispanic white subjects from the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging (GERA) cohort, part of the Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health. Relative TL (T/S) was log2 transformed to improve normality and standardized to have mean 0 and variance 1. Neighborhood SES was measured using the Neighborhood Deprivation Index (NDI), and individual SES was measured by self-reported education level. We fit linear regression models of TL on age, sex, smoking, body mass index, comorbidities, NDI, and education level. We tested for differences in the associations by sex and nonlinearity in the association of NDI with TL. Results Each SD increase in NDI was associated with a decrease of 0.0192 in standardized TL, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.0306, -0.0078. There was no evidence of nonlinearity in the association of NDI with TL. We further found that less than high school education was associated with a decrease of 0.1371 in standardized TL, 95% CI = -0.1919, -0.0823 as compared to a college education. There were no differences in the associations by sex. Conclusions We found evidence that both lower neighborhood SES and lower individual-level SES are associated with shorter TL among non-Hispanic whites. Our findings suggest that socioeconomic factors may influence aging by contributing to shorter TL.
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Smith L, Luchini C, Demurtas J, Soysal P, Stubbs B, Hamer M, Nottegar A, Lawlor RT, Lopez-Sanchez GF, Firth J, Koyanagi A, Roberts J, Willeit P, Waldhoer T, Loosemore M, Abbs AD, Johnstone J, Yang L, Veronese N. Telomere length and health outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies. Ageing Res Rev 2019; 51:1-10. [PMID: 30776454 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to map and grade evidence for the relationships between telomere length with a diverse range of health outcomes, using an umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses. We searched for meta-analyses of observational studies reporting on the association of telomere length with any health outcome (clinical disease outcomes and intermediate traits). For each association, random-effects summary effect size, 95% confidence interval (CI), and 95% prediction interval were calculated. To evaluate the credibility of the identified evidence, we assessed also heterogeneity, evidence for small-study effect and evidence for excess significance bias. Twenty-one relevant meta-analyses were identified reporting on 50 different outcomes. The level of evidence was high only for the association of short telomeres with higher risk of gastric cancer in the general population (relative risk, RR = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.68-2.26), and moderate for the association of shorter telomeres with diabetes or with Alzheimer's disease, even if limited to meta-analyses of case-control studies. There was weak evidence for twenty outcomes and not significant association for 27 health outcomes. The present umbrella review demonstrates that shorter telomere length may have an important role in incidence gastric cancer and, probably, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. At the same time, conversely to general assumptions, it does not find strong evidence supporting the notion that shorter telomere length plays an important role in many health outcomes that have been studied thus far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Smith
- The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Claudio Luchini
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Jacopo Demurtas
- Primary Care Department Azienda USL Toscana Sud Est, Grosseto, Italy
| | - Pinar Soysal
- Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Geriatric Center, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Brendon Stubbs
- Physiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ, UK; Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, UK
| | - Mark Hamer
- School Sport Exercise Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Alessia Nottegar
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pathology, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Rita T Lawlor
- ARC-Net Research Center, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Joseph Firth
- NICM Health Research Institute, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ai Koyanagi
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu/CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Justin Roberts
- The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter Willeit
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria; Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas Waldhoer
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Mike Loosemore
- University College London, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, UK
| | | | - James Johnstone
- The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicola Veronese
- National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Aging Branch, Padova, Italy.
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Steinmetz M, Schmitter C, Radecke T, Stundl A, Nickenig G, Schaefer C, Schahab N, Vasa-Nicotera M, Sinning JM. Brief report - Telomere length is a poor biomarker to predict 1-year mortality or cardiovascular comorbidity in patients with transcatheter aortic valve replacement. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213250. [PMID: 30861019 PMCID: PMC6413932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a therapeutic option for patients with aortic valve stenosis at increased surgical risk. Telomeres are an established marker for cellular senescence and have served to evaluate cardiovascular diseases including severe aortic valve stenosis. In our study, we hypothesized that telomere length may be a predictor for outcome and associated with comorbidities in patients with TAVR. Methods and results We analyzed leucocyte telomere length from 155 patients who underwent TAVR and correlated the results with 1-year mortality and severe comorbidities. The cohort was subdivided into 3 groups according to telomere length. Although a trend for a positive correlation of telomere length with a lower EuroSCORE could be found, telomere length was not associated with survival, aortic valve opening area or cardiovascular comorbidities (peripheral, coronary or cerebrovascular disease). Interestingly, long telomeres were significantly correlated to a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Conclusion In elderly patients with severe aortic valve stenosis, leucocyte telomere length did not predict post-procedural survival. The correlation between long telomere length and reduced LVEF in these patients deserves further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Steinmetz
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Essen, Germany
- Universitätsklinkum Bonn, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Bonn, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Charlotte Schmitter
- Universitätsklinkum Bonn, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tobias Radecke
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Essen, Germany
| | - Anja Stundl
- Universitätsklinkum Bonn, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Bonn, Germany
| | - Georg Nickenig
- Universitätsklinkum Bonn, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Schaefer
- Universitätsklinkum Bonn, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nadjib Schahab
- Universitätsklinkum Bonn, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mariuca Vasa-Nicotera
- Universitätsklinkum Bonn, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Bonn, Germany
- Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Klinik für Kardiologie, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jan-Malte Sinning
- Universitätsklinkum Bonn, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Bonn, Germany
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Abstract
Telomere length measurement is increasingly recognized as a clinical gauge for age-related disease risk. There are several methods for studying blood telomere length (BTL) as a clinical biomarker. The first is an observational study approach, which directly measures telomere lengths using either cross-sectional or longitudinal patient cohorts and compares them to a population of age- and sex-matched individuals. These direct traceable measurements can be considered reflective of an individual's current health or disease state. Escalating interest in personalized medicine, access to high-throughput genotyping and resulting acquisition of large volumes of genetic data corroborates the second method, Mendelian randomization (MR). MR employs telomere length-associated genetic variants to indicate predisposition to disease risk based on the genomic composition of the individual. When assessed from cells in the bloodstream, telomeres can show variation from their genetically predisposed lengths due to environmental-induced changes. These alterations in telomere length act as an indicator of cellular health, which, in turn, can provide disease risk status. Overall, BTL measurement is a dynamic marker of biological health and well-being that together with genetically defined telomere lengths can provide insights into improved healthcare for the individual.
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Gielen M, Hageman GJ, Antoniou EE, Nordfjall K, Mangino M, Balasubramanyam M, de Meyer T, Hendricks AE, Giltay EJ, Hunt SC, Nettleton JA, Salpea KD, Diaz VA, Farzaneh-Far R, Atzmon G, Harris SE, Hou L, Gilley D, Hovatta I, Kark JD, Nassar H, Kurz DJ, Mather KA, Willeit P, Zheng YL, Pavanello S, Demerath EW, Rode L, Bunout D, Steptoe A, Boardman L, Marti A, Needham B, Zheng W, Ramsey-Goldman R, Pellatt AJ, Kaprio J, Hofmann JN, Gieger C, Paolisso G, Hjelmborg JBH, Mirabello L, Seeman T, Wong J, van der Harst P, Broer L, Kronenberg F, Kollerits B, Strandberg T, Eisenberg DTA, Duggan C, Verhoeven JE, Schaakxs R, Zannolli R, dos Reis RMR, Charchar FJ, Tomaszewski M, Mons U, Demuth I, Iglesias Molli AE, Cheng G, Krasnienkov D, D'Antono B, Kasielski M, McDonnell BJ, Ebstein RP, Sundquist K, Pare G, Chong M, Zeegers MP. Body mass index is negatively associated with telomere length: a collaborative cross-sectional meta-analysis of 87 observational studies. Am J Clin Nutr 2018; 108:453-475. [PMID: 30535086 PMCID: PMC6454526 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Even before the onset of age-related diseases, obesity might be a contributing factor to the cumulative burden of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation throughout the life course. Obesity may therefore contribute to accelerated shortening of telomeres. Consequently, obese persons are more likely to have shorter telomeres, but the association between body mass index (BMI) and leukocyte telomere length (TL) might differ across the life span and between ethnicities and sexes. Objective A collaborative cross-sectional meta-analysis of observational studies was conducted to investigate the associations between BMI and TL across the life span. Design Eighty-seven distinct study samples were included in the meta-analysis capturing data from 146,114 individuals. Study-specific age- and sex-adjusted regression coefficients were combined by using a random-effects model in which absolute [base pairs (bp)] and relative telomere to single-copy gene ratio (T/S ratio) TLs were regressed against BMI. Stratified analysis was performed by 3 age categories ("young": 18-60 y; "middle": 61-75 y; and "old": >75 y), sex, and ethnicity. Results Each unit increase in BMI corresponded to a -3.99 bp (95% CI: -5.17, -2.81 bp) difference in TL in the total pooled sample; among young adults, each unit increase in BMI corresponded to a -7.67 bp (95% CI: -10.03, -5.31 bp) difference. Each unit increase in BMI corresponded to a -1.58 × 10(-3) unit T/S ratio (0.16% decrease; 95% CI: -2.14 × 10(-3), -1.01 × 10(-3)) difference in age- and sex-adjusted relative TL in the total pooled sample; among young adults, each unit increase in BMI corresponded to a -2.58 × 10(-3) unit T/S ratio (0.26% decrease; 95% CI: -3.92 × 10(-3), -1.25 × 10(-3)). The associations were predominantly for the white pooled population. No sex differences were observed. Conclusions A higher BMI is associated with shorter telomeres, especially in younger individuals. The presently observed difference is not negligible. Meta-analyses of longitudinal studies evaluating change in body weight alongside change in TL are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marij Gielen
- Departments of Complex Genetics,Address correspondence to MG (e-mail: )
| | - Geja J Hageman
- Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht University, Netherlands
| | - Evangelia E Antoniou
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Netherlands
| | | | - Massimo Mangino
- Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom,NIHR Biomedical Research Center at Guy's and St. Thomas’ Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tim de Meyer
- Department of Mathematical Modeling, Statistics, and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Audrey E Hendricks
- Population Sciences Branch of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, NHLBI's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA,Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO
| | - Erik J Giltay
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Steven C Hunt
- Cardiovascular Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Jennifer A Nettleton
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
| | - Klelia D Salpea
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, BSRC “Alexander Fleming,” Athens, Greece
| | - Vanessa A Diaz
- Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Ramin Farzaneh-Far
- Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA
| | - Gil Atzmon
- Department of Medicine and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, and Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sarah E Harris
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Cognitive Epidemiology and Medical Genetics Section and Center for Genomics and Experimental Medicine and MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lifang Hou
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - David Gilley
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Iiris Hovatta
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jeremy D Kark
- Epidemiology Unit, Hebrew University–Hadassah School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hisham Nassar
- Department of Cardiology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - David J Kurz
- Department of Cardiology, Triemli Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karen A Mather
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Psychiatry, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter Willeit
- Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria, and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Yun-Ling Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Sofia Pavanello
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ellen W Demerath
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Line Rode
- The Copenhagen General Population Study, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Bunout
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrew Steptoe
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Boardman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN
| | - Amelia Marti
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain,CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belinda Needham
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Wei Zheng
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | | | | | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Department of Public Health,Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jonathan N Hofmann
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - Christian Gieger
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology and Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Giuseppe Paolisso
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic, and Geriatric Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Jacob B H Hjelmborg
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Biodemography, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Lisa Mirabello
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic, and Geriatric Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Seeman
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jason Wong
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Pim van der Harst
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Linda Broer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Florian Kronenberg
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Medical Genetics, Molecular, and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Barbara Kollerits
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Medical Genetics, Molecular, and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Timo Strandberg
- University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Center for Life Course Epidemiology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Dan T A Eisenberg
- Department of Anthropology and Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Josine E Verhoeven
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Roxanne Schaakxs
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Raffaela Zannolli
- Pediatrics Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Senese/University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | - Rosana M R dos Reis
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fadi J Charchar
- School of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, and Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Maciej Tomaszewski
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Biology, and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom,Division of Medicine, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ute Mons
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research,Cancer Prevention Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin (corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Elena Iglesias Molli
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM). Laboratorio de Diabetes y Metabolismo, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guo Cheng
- Department of Nutrition, Food Safety, and Toxicology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dmytro Krasnienkov
- Department of Epigenetics, DF Chebotarev State Institute of Gerontology NAMS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Bianca D'Antono
- Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, and Psychology Department, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marek Kasielski
- Bases of Clinical Medicine Teaching Center, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Barry J McDonnell
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kristina Sundquist
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
| | - Guillaume Pare
- Population Health Research Institute and McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Michael Chong
- Population Health Research Institute and McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Maurice P Zeegers
- Departments of Complex Genetics,CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Zimetti F, Freitas WM, Campos AM, Daher M, Adorni MP, Bernini F, Sposito AC, Zanotti I. Cholesterol efflux capacity does not associate with coronary calcium, plaque vulnerability, and telomere length in healthy octogenarians. J Lipid Res 2018; 59:714-721. [PMID: 29436385 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.p079525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have revealed that traditional risk factors are less effective in predicting CVD risk in the elderly, suggesting the need to identify new biomarkers. Here, we evaluated the association between serum cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), an atheroprotective property of HDL recently identified as a novel marker of CVD risk, and atherosclerotic burden in a cohort of very old, healthy individuals. Serum CEC values were not significantly correlated either with calcium score or with markers of vulnerable plaque, such as positive remodeling, hypodensity, spotty calcification, or napking-ring sign. In addition, no association was detected between CEC and telomere length, a marker of biological aging that has been linked to atherosclerosis extent. Interestingly, elderly subjects presented a remarkably higher CEC (+30.2%; P < 0.0001) compared with values obtained from a cohort of sex-matched, cardiovascular event-free, middle-aged individuals. In conclusion, serum CEC is not related to traditional risk factors in very old, cardiovascular event-free subjects, but has significantly higher values compared with a healthy, younger population. Whether this improved HDL functionality may represent a protective factor in CVD onset must be established in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wladimir M Freitas
- Cardiology Division, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Alessandra M Campos
- Cardiology Division, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Daher
- Cardiology Division, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Franco Bernini
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrei C Sposito
- Cardiology Division, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária, Campinas, Brazil.
| | - Ilaria Zanotti
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
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12
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Mwasongwe S, Gao Y, Griswold M, Wilson JG, Aviv A, Reiner AP, Raffield LM. Leukocyte telomere length and cardiovascular disease in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study. Atherosclerosis 2017; 266:41-47. [PMID: 28950166 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS In European descent populations, shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has been associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and mortality, while longer LTL has been associated with greater left ventricular hypertrophy. We evaluated the relationship of LTL with subclinical cardiovascular disease indices and incident clinical events and mortality in African Americans (AAs). METHODS Analyses were restricted to 2518 participants of the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) with LTL measured by Southern blot in baseline blood samples. RESULTS Adjusting for established CVD risk factors, longer LTL was significantly associated with lower prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) (odds ratio (OR) = 0.810) per 1 kb increase in LTL; (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.656, 0.9998), p=0.0498). Longer LTL was also associated with higher ankle brachial index (ABI) (β = 0.023; (95% CI 0.004, 0.042), p=0.017) when comparing the highest to the lowest LTL quartile. There were no significant associations between LTL and abdominal aortic calcification, carotid intima-media thickness, or left ventricular mass. After a median follow-up of 9 years, longer LTL was associated with lower risk of incident ischemic stroke (hazard ratio (HR) 0.69 (95% CI 0.48, 0.99), p=0.044) and total mortality (HR 0.81 (95% CI 0.67, 0.97), p=0.026) in age and sex adjusted models, but these associations were no longer significant in fully adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS Among a community-based cohort of AAs, longer LTL was nominally associated with lower odds of CAC and increased ABI, indicative of decreased prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease. These findings do not offer strong support for LTL as an independent biomarker of CVD risk in AAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanford Mwasongwe
- Jackson Heart Study, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Yan Gao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Michael Griswold
- Department of Data Science, John D Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - James G Wilson
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Abraham Aviv
- Center of Human Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, Newark, NJ, USA
| | | | - Laura M Raffield
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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13
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Gebreab SY, Manna ZG, Khan RJ, Riestra P, Xu R, Davis SK. Less Than Ideal Cardiovascular Health Is Associated With Shorter Leukocyte Telomere Length: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1999-2002. J Am Heart Assoc 2017; 6:JAHA.116.004105. [PMID: 28154163 PMCID: PMC5523742 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.116.004105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background The associations between individual cardiovascular disease risk factors and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) have been inconclusive. We investigated the association between LTL and overall cardiovascular health (CVH) as defined by the American Heart Association and whether the association is modified by sex and race/ethnicity. Methods and Results We included 5194 adults (aged ≥20) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002. CVH was defined as a composite score of the 7 metrics (smoking, physical activity, diet, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose) and categorized as “poor,” “intermediate,” and “ideal.” LTL was assayed from whole blood using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method relative to standard reference DNA. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the association between CVH and log‐transformed LTL. We found strong graded association between CVH and LTL in the overall sample, with evidence of dose‐response relationship (P for trend=0.013). Individuals with poor and intermediate CVH had significantly shorter LTL than individuals with ideal CVH (−3.4% [95% CI=−6.0%, −0.8%] and −2.4% [−4.4%, −0.3%], respectively), after adjustment for demographic variables, socioeconomic status, and C‐reactive protein. The association was stronger in women (−6.6% [−10.2%, −2.9%] for poor vs ideal CVH) and non‐Hispanic whites (−4.3% [−7.1%, −1.4%] for poor vs ideal CVH). Conclusions The findings suggest that less‐than‐ideal CVH is associated with shorter LTL, but this association varies by sex and race/ethnicity. Future longitudinal research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie the association between CVH and LTL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samson Y Gebreab
- Cardiovascular disease Section, Social Epidemiology Research Unit, Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Disease Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Zerai G Manna
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Rumana J Khan
- Cardiovascular disease Section, Social Epidemiology Research Unit, Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Disease Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Pia Riestra
- Cardiovascular disease Section, Social Epidemiology Research Unit, Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Disease Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Ruihua Xu
- Cardiovascular disease Section, Social Epidemiology Research Unit, Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Disease Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Sharon K Davis
- Cardiovascular disease Section, Social Epidemiology Research Unit, Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Disease Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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15
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Raggi P, Corwin C. Heart aging measured with coronary artery calcium scoring and cardiovascular risk assessment algorithms in HIV infected patients. Virulence 2016; 8:539-544. [PMID: 27410249 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2016.1212154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
ABTRACT Many sources have highlighted the high incidence of premature cardiovascular events in HIV infected patients. This raises the suspicion of an accelerated aging of the vascular system in this disease characterized by chronic systemic subliminal inflammation and immune dysregulation. Unfortunately all currently available risk assessment algorithms based on traditional risk factors, and even those containing more HIV-specific factors, fail to accurately predict risk in a large proportion of patients. In the general population several models have implemented imaging data to refine risk assessment, and the concept of vascular aging has been of value in improving the performance of these algorithms. It is expected that HIV patients may benefit from a similar approach as it becomes clearer that vascular imaging provides valuable prognostic information in this patient category.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Raggi
- a Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute , University of Alberta , Edmonton , AB , Canada
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16
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Ormseth MJ, Solus JF, Oeser AM, Bian A, Gebretsadik T, Shintani A, Raggi P, Stein CM. Telomere Length and Coronary Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Rheumatol 2016; 43:1469-74. [PMID: 27252422 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.151115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Telomeres protect against chromosomal end damage and shorten with each cell division; their length may be a marker of cardiovascular and overall biological aging. We examined the hypothesis that reduced telomere length is associated with increased coronary atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study in 145 patients with RA and 87 control subjects frequency-matched for age, race, and sex. Coronary artery calcium score was determined by noncontrast cardiac computed tomography. Telomere length was measured from whole blood DNA, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expressed as telomeric product to a single-copy gene product ratio (T/S ratio). Associations between telomere length, coronary artery calcium score, and 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) were assessed with Spearman correlation, proportional odds logistic regression, and linear regression, adjusting for age, race, and sex. RESULTS Telomere length was significantly inversely correlated with age in patients with RA (ρ = -0.37, p < 0.001) and control subjects (ρ = -0.39, p = 0.001). Among patients with RA, for every interquartile range (IQR) decrease in telomere length (T/S ratio), the odds of higher coronary artery calcium score increased by 38% (95% CI: 4-60) after adjusting for age, race, and sex (p adjusted = 0.03). Telomere length was not associated with DAS28 (p adjusted = 0.17). Telomere length was not significantly different in patients with RA [median (IQR): 1.02 units (0.9-1.11)] compared to control subjects [1.05 units (0.95-1.17); p = 0.10]. CONCLUSION Telomere length is inversely associated with coronary artery calcium score, independent of age, race, and sex in patients with RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle J Ormseth
- From the departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; the departments of Medicine and Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and the departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.M.J. Ormseth, MD, MSCI, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; J.F. Solus, PhD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A.M. Oeser, BS, MLAS, CCRP, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Bian, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; T. Gebretsadik, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Shintani, PhD, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; P. Raggi, MD, departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta; C.M. Stein, MD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
| | - Joseph F Solus
- From the departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; the departments of Medicine and Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and the departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.M.J. Ormseth, MD, MSCI, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; J.F. Solus, PhD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A.M. Oeser, BS, MLAS, CCRP, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Bian, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; T. Gebretsadik, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Shintani, PhD, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; P. Raggi, MD, departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta; C.M. Stein, MD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Annette M Oeser
- From the departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; the departments of Medicine and Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and the departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.M.J. Ormseth, MD, MSCI, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; J.F. Solus, PhD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A.M. Oeser, BS, MLAS, CCRP, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Bian, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; T. Gebretsadik, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Shintani, PhD, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; P. Raggi, MD, departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta; C.M. Stein, MD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Aihua Bian
- From the departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; the departments of Medicine and Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and the departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.M.J. Ormseth, MD, MSCI, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; J.F. Solus, PhD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A.M. Oeser, BS, MLAS, CCRP, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Bian, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; T. Gebretsadik, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Shintani, PhD, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; P. Raggi, MD, departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta; C.M. Stein, MD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Tebeb Gebretsadik
- From the departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; the departments of Medicine and Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and the departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.M.J. Ormseth, MD, MSCI, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; J.F. Solus, PhD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A.M. Oeser, BS, MLAS, CCRP, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Bian, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; T. Gebretsadik, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Shintani, PhD, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; P. Raggi, MD, departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta; C.M. Stein, MD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Ayumi Shintani
- From the departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; the departments of Medicine and Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and the departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.M.J. Ormseth, MD, MSCI, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; J.F. Solus, PhD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A.M. Oeser, BS, MLAS, CCRP, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Bian, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; T. Gebretsadik, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Shintani, PhD, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; P. Raggi, MD, departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta; C.M. Stein, MD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Paolo Raggi
- From the departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; the departments of Medicine and Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and the departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.M.J. Ormseth, MD, MSCI, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; J.F. Solus, PhD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A.M. Oeser, BS, MLAS, CCRP, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Bian, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; T. Gebretsadik, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Shintani, PhD, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; P. Raggi, MD, departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta; C.M. Stein, MD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - C Michael Stein
- From the departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; the departments of Medicine and Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and the departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.M.J. Ormseth, MD, MSCI, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; J.F. Solus, PhD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A.M. Oeser, BS, MLAS, CCRP, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Bian, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; T. Gebretsadik, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; A. Shintani, PhD, MPH, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; P. Raggi, MD, departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Alberta; C.M. Stein, MD, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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17
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Short Telomere Load, Telomere Length, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis. J Am Coll Cardiol 2016; 67:2467-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2016.03.530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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18
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Telomere Length Maintenance and Cardio-Metabolic Disease Prevention Through Exercise Training. Sports Med 2016; 46:1213-37. [DOI: 10.1007/s40279-016-0482-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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19
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Hunt SC, Kark JD, Aviv A. Association between shortened leukocyte telomere length and cardio-metabolic outcomes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 8:4-7. [PMID: 25691684 DOI: 10.1161/circgenetics.114.000964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven C Hunt
- From the Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar and Cardiovascular Genetics Division, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT (S.C.H.); Epidemiology Unit, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel (J.D.K.); and The Center of Human Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of NJ, Newark, NJ (A.A.)
| | - Jeremy D Kark
- From the Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar and Cardiovascular Genetics Division, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT (S.C.H.); Epidemiology Unit, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel (J.D.K.); and The Center of Human Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of NJ, Newark, NJ (A.A.)
| | - Abraham Aviv
- From the Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar and Cardiovascular Genetics Division, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT (S.C.H.); Epidemiology Unit, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel (J.D.K.); and The Center of Human Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of NJ, Newark, NJ (A.A.).
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Denham J, O'Brien BJ, Prestes PR, Brown NJ, Charchar FJ. Increased expression of telomere-regulating genes in endurance athletes with long leukocyte telomeres. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2015; 120:148-58. [PMID: 26586905 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00587.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukocyte telomeres shorten with age, and excessive shortening is associated with age-related cardiometabolic diseases. Exercise training may prevent disease through telomere length maintenance although the optimal amount of exercise that attenuates telomere attrition is unknown. Furthermore, the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the enhanced telomere maintenance observed in endurance athletes is poorly understood. We quantified the leukocyte telomere length and analyzed the expression of telomere-regulating genes in endurance athletes and healthy controls (both n = 61), using quantitative PCR. We found endurance athletes have significantly longer (7.1%, 208-416 nt) leukocyte telomeres and upregulated TERT (2.0-fold) and TPP1 (1.3-fold) mRNA expression compared with controls in age-adjusted analysis. The telomere length and telomere-regulating gene expression differences were no longer statistically significant after adjustment for resting heart rate and relative V̇O(2 max) (all P > 0.05). Resting heart rate emerged as an independent predictor of leukocyte telomere length and TERT and TPP1 mRNA expression in stepwise regression models. To gauge whether volume of exercise was associated with leukocyte telomere length, we divided subjects into running and cycling tertiles (distance covered per week) and found individuals in the middle and highest tertiles had longer telomeres than individuals in the lowest tertile. These data emphasize the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise training in the prevention of biological aging. They also support the concept that moderate amounts of exercise training protects against biological aging, while higher amounts may not elicit additional benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Denham
- School of Science and Technology, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia; Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and Its Prevention (ACRISP), Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brendan J O'Brien
- Faculty of Health, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, Victoria, Australia
| | - Priscilla R Prestes
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, Victoria, Australia; and
| | - Nicholas J Brown
- Faculty of Health, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fadi J Charchar
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, Victoria, Australia; and Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and Its Prevention (ACRISP), Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Carty CL, Kooperberg C, Liu J, Herndon M, Assimes T, Hou L, Kroenke CH, LaCroix AZ, Kimura M, Aviv A, Reiner AP. Leukocyte Telomere Length and Risks of Incident Coronary Heart Disease and Mortality in a Racially Diverse Population of Postmenopausal Women. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2015; 35:2225-31. [PMID: 26249011 PMCID: PMC4713196 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.115.305838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Telomeres are regions at the ends of chromosomes that maintain chromosomal structural integrity and genomic stability. In studies of mainly older, white populations, shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and increased risks of mortality and coronary heart disease (CHD). On average, African Americans (AfAm) have longer LTL than whites, but the LTL-CHD relationship in AfAm is unknown. We investigated the relationship of LTL with CHD and mortality among AfAm. APPROACH AND RESULTS Using a case-cohort design, 1525 postmenopausal women (667 AfAm and 858 whites) from the Women's Health Initiative had LTL measured in baseline blood samples by Southern blotting. CHD or mortality hazards ratios were estimated using race-stratified and risk factor-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. There were 367 incident CHD (226 mortality) events in whites, whereas AfAm experienced 269 incident CHD (216 mortality) events during median follow-up of 13 years. Shorter LTL was associated with older age, current smoking, and white race/ethnicity. In whites, each 1 kilobase decrease in LTL was associated with 50% increased hazard of CHD, hazard ratio=1.50 (95% confidence interval, 1.08-2.10), P=0.017. There was no association between CHD and LTL in AfAm. White women with shorter LTL had higher risks of mortality. In contrast, shorter LTL was weakly associated with decreased mortality hazard in AfAm. CONCLUSIONS As one of the largest prospective studies of LTL associations with incident CHD and mortality in a racially diverse sample, our study suggests differences in LTL associations with CHD and mortality between white and AfAm postmenopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara L Carty
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.).
| | - Charles Kooperberg
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.)
| | - Jingmin Liu
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.)
| | - Megan Herndon
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.)
| | - Themistocles Assimes
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.)
| | - Lifang Hou
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.)
| | - Candyce H Kroenke
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.)
| | - Andrea Z LaCroix
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.)
| | - Masayuki Kimura
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.)
| | - Abraham Aviv
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.)
| | - Alexander P Reiner
- From the Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Center for Translational Science, George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC (C.L.C.); Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (C.K., J.L., M.H., A.P.R.); Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA (T.A.); Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (L.H.); Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA (C.H.K.); Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego (A.Z.L.); Center of Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers State University of New Jersey, Newark (M.K., A.A.); and Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle (A.P.R.)
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22
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Hunt SC, Kimura M, Hopkins PN, Carr JJ, Heiss G, Province MA, Aviv A. Leukocyte telomere length and coronary artery calcium. Am J Cardiol 2015; 116:214-8. [PMID: 25960381 PMCID: PMC4475426 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2015.03.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Patients with histories of myocardial infarction display shortened leukocyte telomere length (LTL), but conflicting findings have been reported on the relation between LTL and subclinical coronary artery atherosclerosis, as expressed by coronary artery calcium (CAC). The aim of this study was to examine the relation between LTL, measured by Southern blots, and CAC in 3,169 participants in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study. Participants consisted of 2,556 whites, 613 blacks, 1,790 women, and 1,379 men. The odds of having CAC ≥100 for the shortest LTL tertile versus the longest LTL tertile were 1.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28 to 3.16) in white men and 1.76 (95% CI 1.18 to 2.45) in white women, after adjusting for multiple covariates of CAC. The corresponding odds ratios for blacks were 1.53 (95% CI 0.67 to 3.50) and 0.87 (95% CI 0.37 to 2.00). Significance levels of tests for trend across LTL tertiles were p = 0.002 in white men, p = 0.006 in white women, p = 0.32 in black men, and p = 0.74 in black women. The associations, or lack of associations, were independent of C-reactive protein levels and other risk factors for CAC. As previously shown in other studies, whites displayed shorter LTLs than blacks (p <0.0001). In conclusion, the higher the coronary artery atherosclerotic burden in whites, the shorter the LTL. This LTL-atherosclerosis connection is not found in blacks. The mechanisms for the racial difference in LTL, CAC, and their interrelations do not seem to be related to inflammation and merit further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven C Hunt
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar; Cardiovascular Genetics Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.
| | - Masayuki Kimura
- The Center of Human Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Paul N Hopkins
- Cardiovascular Genetics Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - J Jeffrey Carr
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Gerardo Heiss
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Michael A Province
- Division of Statistical Genomics, Department of Genetics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Abraham Aviv
- The Center of Human Development and Aging, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey
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23
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Raymond AR, Norton GR, Woodiwiss AJ, Brooksbank RL. Impact of gender and menopausal status on relationships between biological aging, as indexed by telomere length, and aortic stiffness. Am J Hypertens 2015; 28:623-30. [PMID: 25413841 DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpu212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) possibly through an impact of telomere attrition on aortic stiffness. Whether reduced biological aging and a lack of telomere length-aortic stiffness relationships in women contribute to the lower prevalence of CVD in women, prior to menopause, is uncertain. METHODS We evaluated the relationship between telomere length and carotid-femoral (aortic) pulse wave velocity (PWV) in 580 randomly recruited participants of Black African descent (age = 44 ± 19 years; women: n = 361; premenopausal: n = 195). PWV was determined using carotid and femoral applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor). Relative leukocyte telomere length (T/S) was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. RESULTS Men and women had similar T/S. T/S was inversely correlated with age (r = -0.14, P < 0.001) and this association was similar in all (r = -0.14, P < 0.01) and premenopausal (r = -0.17, P < 0.05) women as in men (r = -0.14, P < 0.05). An inverse relationship between T/S and PWV was noted both before (r = -0.20, P < 0.0001) and after (partial r = -0.14, P < 0.001) adjustments for confounders. No interaction between T/S and either sex or menopausal status was independently associated with PWV, and T/S was independently correlated with PWV in all (partial r = -0.14, P < 0.01) and premenopausal (partial r = -0.18, P < 0.05) women and in men (partial r = -0.15, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Gender and premenopausal status do not affect age-related decreases in T/S and associations between T/S and PWV. In participants of African descent in whom telomere length did not differ by gender, the impact of gender prior to menopause on CVD is unlikely to be attributed to differences in the effect of biological aging on aortic stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Raymond
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Gavin R Norton
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Angela J Woodiwiss
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Richard L Brooksbank
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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24
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Puterman E, Lin J, Krauss J, Blackburn EH, Epel ES. Determinants of telomere attrition over 1 year in healthy older women: stress and health behaviors matter. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:529-35. [PMID: 25070535 PMCID: PMC4310821 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Telomere length, a reliable predictor of disease pathogenesis, can be affected by genetics, chronic stress and health behaviors. Cross-sectionally, highly stressed postmenopausal women have shorter telomeres, but only if they are inactive. However, no studies have prospectively examined telomere length change over a short period, and if rate of attrition is affected by naturalistic factors such as stress and engagement in healthy behaviors, including diet, exercise, and sleep. Here we followed healthy women over 1 year to test if major stressors that occurred over the year predicted telomere shortening, and whether engaging in healthy behaviors during this period mitigates this effect. In 239 postmenopausal, non-smoking, disease-free women, accumulation of major life stressors across a 1-year period predicted telomere attrition over the same period-for every major life stressor that occurred during the year, there was a significantly greater decline in telomere length over the year of 35 bp (P<0.05). Yet, these effects were moderated by health behaviors (interaction B=0.19, P=0.04). Women who maintained relatively higher levels of health behaviors (1 s.d. above the mean) appeared to be protected when exposed to stress. This finding has implications for understanding malleability of telomere length, as well as expectations for possible intervention effects. This is the first study to identify predictors of telomere length change over the short period of a year.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Puterman
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - J Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - J Krauss
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - E H Blackburn
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - E S Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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25
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Gu Y, Honig LS, Schupf N, Lee JH, Luchsinger JA, Stern Y, Scarmeas N. Mediterranean diet and leukocyte telomere length in a multi-ethnic elderly population. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2015; 37:24. [PMID: 25750063 PMCID: PMC4352412 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-015-9758-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is considered as the marker of biological aging and may be related to environmental factors. The current study aimed to examine the relation between Mediterranean-type diet and LTL. We used a cross-sectional study of 1743 multi-ethnic community residents of New York aged 65 years or older. Mediterranean-type diet (MeDi) was calculated from dietary information collected using a food frequency questionnaire. LTL was measured from leukocyte DNA using a real-time PCR method to measure T/S ratio, the ratio of telomere (T) to single-copy gene (S) sequence. Regression analysis showed that the MeDi score was not associated with LTL in the overall study population (β = 12.5; p = 0.32) after adjusting for age, sex, education, ethnicity, caloric intake, smoking, and physical and leisure activities. However, we found a significant association between MeDi and LTL among non-Hispanic whites (β = 48.3; p = 0.05), and the results held after excluding dementia subjects (β = 49.6; p = 0.05). We further found that, in the whole population, vegetable and cereal consumption above the sex-specific population median was associated with longer LTL (β = 89.1, p = 0.04) and shorter LTL (β = -93.5; p = 0.03), respectively. Among non-Hispanic whites, intake of meat or dairy below sex-specific population medians was associated with longer LTL (β = 154.7, p = 0.05; β = 240.5, p < 0.001, respectively). We found that higher adherence to a MeDi was associated with longer LTL among whites but not among African Americans and Hispanics. Additionally, a diet high in vegetables but low in cereal, meat, and dairy might be associated with longer LTL among healthy elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yian Gu
- The Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, 622 W 168th St., P&S #16, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Lawrence S. Honig
- The Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, 622 W 168th St., P&S #16, New York, NY 10032 USA
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- The Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Nicole Schupf
- The Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, 622 W 168th St., P&S #16, New York, NY 10032 USA
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- The Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- The Division of Epidemiology, Joseph P. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Joseph H. Lee
- The Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, 622 W 168th St., P&S #16, New York, NY 10032 USA
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- The Division of Epidemiology, Joseph P. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Jose A. Luchsinger
- The Division of Epidemiology, Joseph P. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- The Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Yaakov Stern
- The Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, 622 W 168th St., P&S #16, New York, NY 10032 USA
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- The Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Nikolaos Scarmeas
- The Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, 622 W 168th St., P&S #16, New York, NY 10032 USA
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- The Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
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26
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Krishna BH, Keerthi GS, Kumar CK, Reddy NM. Association of leukocyte telomere length with oxidative stress in yoga practitioners. J Clin Diagn Res 2015; 9:CC01-3. [PMID: 25954614 DOI: 10.7860/jcdr/2015/13076.5729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Yoga is a mind-body modulation technique that has been shown to have beneficial effects on various diseases related to various systems in the body. However, the molecular basis of mechanism of action is not clear. Hence, this study was designed to study the leukocyte telomere biology and its relation with homocysteine and oxidative stress in yoga practitioners. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a prospective case-control study involving Yoga practitioners aged 30-40 y with minimum of two years yoga practice (Yoga group) and age, gender and body mass index matched sedentary healthy general population with no medical problems (Control group). Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) was measured by using quantitative PCR (qPCR), fasting plasma homocysteine was measured by a rapid high-performance liquid chromatography assay and the oxidative stress was assessed with total antioxidant status (TAOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) measured by calorimetry. RESULTS The LTL was shorter in control group than in yoga group (p<0.001). The TAOS was more in yoga group when compared to control group (p=0.008), MDA and homocysteine was high in control group when compared to Yoga group (p<0.001). Further, the LTL was positively correlated with TAOS (r=0.841, p<0.001) and negatively correlated with MDA (r=-0.931, p<0.001) and Homocysteine (r=-0.756, p<0.001). CONCLUSION The LTL is well-preserved in people who practice Yoga regularly with lower systemic oxidative stress compared to those who have a relatively sedentary lifestyle despite lack of any medical disorders. The habitual yoga practice seems to inhibit replicative cellular senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bandi Hari Krishna
- Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Narayana Medical College , Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | | | - Chintala Kiran Kumar
- Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Narayana Medical College , Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Natham Mallikarjuna Reddy
- Professor and Head, Department of Physiology, Narayana Medical College , Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
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27
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Chen S, Lin J, Matsuguchi T, Blackburn E, Yeh F, Best LG, Devereux RB, Lee ET, Howard BV, Roman MJ, Zhao J. Short leukocyte telomere length predicts incidence and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in American Indians: the Strong Heart Family Study. Aging (Albany NY) 2015; 6:414-27. [PMID: 24902894 PMCID: PMC4069268 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Short leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has been associated with atherosclerosis in cross-sectional studies, but the prospective relationship between telomere shortening and risk of developing carotid atherosclerosis has not been well-established. This study examines whether LTL at baseline predicts incidence and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in American Indians in the Strong Heart Study. The analysis included 2,819 participants who were free of overt cardiovascular disease at baseline (2001-2003) and were followed through the end of 2006-2009 (average 5.5-yr follow-up). Discrete atherosclerotic plaque was defined as focal protrusion with an arterial wall thickness ≥50% the surrounding wall. Carotid progression was defined as having a higher plaque score at the end of study follow-up compared to baseline. Associations of LTL with incidence and progression of carotid plaque were examined using Cox proportional hazard regression, adjusting for standard coronary risk factors. Compared to participants in the highest LTL tertile, those in the lowest tertile had significantly elevated risk for both incident plaque (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.09–2.03) and plaque progression (HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.26–2.07). Our results provide initial evidence for a potential prognostic utility of LTL in risk prediction for atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufeng Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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28
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Denham J, Marques FZ, Charchar FJ. Leukocyte telomere length variation due to DNA extraction method. BMC Res Notes 2014; 7:877. [PMID: 25475541 PMCID: PMC4289347 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length is indicative of biological age. Shorter telomeres have been associated with several disease and health states. There are inconsistencies throughout the literature amongst relative telomere length measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and different extraction methods or kits used. We quantified whole-blood leukocyte telomere length using the telomere to single copy gene (T/S) ratio by qPCR in 20 young (18-25 yrs) men after extracting DNA using three common extraction methods: Lahiri and Nurnberger (high salt) method, PureLink Genomic DNA Mini kit (Life Technologies) and QiaAmp DNA Mini kit (Qiagen). Telomere length differences of DNA extracted from the three extraction methods was assessed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS DNA purity differed between extraction methods used (P=0.01). Telomere length was impacted by the DNA extraction method used (P=0.01). Telomeres extracted using the Lahiri and Nurnberger method (mean T/S ratio: 2.43, range: 1.57-3.02) and PureLink Genomic DNA Mini Kit (mean T/S ratio: 2.57, range: 2.24-2.80) did not differ (P=0.13). Likewise, QiaAmp and Purelink-extracted telomeres were not statistically different (P=0.14). The Lahiri-extracted telomeres, however, were significantly shorter than those extracted using the QiaAmp DNA Mini Kit (mean T/S ratio: 2.71, range: 2.32-3.02; P=0.003). DNA purity was associated with telomere length. CONCLUSION There are discrepancies between the length of leukocyte telomeres extracted from the same individuals according to the DNA extraction method used. DNA purity could be responsible for the discrepancy in telomere length but this will require validation studies. We recommend using the same DNA extraction kit when quantifying leukocyte telomere length by qPCR or when comparing different cohorts to avoid erroneous associations between telomere length and traits of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fadi J Charchar
- Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
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Zietzer A, Hillmeister P. Leucocyte telomere length as marker for cardiovascular ageing. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2014; 211:251-6. [PMID: 24666613 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Zietzer
- Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin; Center for Cardiovascular Research & Experimental and Clinical Research Center; Richard-Thoma-Laboratories for Arteriogenesis; Berlin Germany
| | - P. Hillmeister
- Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin; Center for Cardiovascular Research & Experimental and Clinical Research Center; Richard-Thoma-Laboratories for Arteriogenesis; Berlin Germany
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Lyon DE, Starkweather AR, Montpetit A, Menzies V, Jallo N. A biobehavioral perspective on telomere length and the exposome. Biol Res Nurs 2014; 16:448-55. [PMID: 25199652 DOI: 10.1177/1099800414522689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A major objective of biobehavioral research is defining the mechanisms that underlie linkages among behavior, biology, health, and disease. The genomic revolution has demonstrated the importance of studying the role of the environment in (epi)genetic mechanisms. The idea that interactions between environment and genetics influence health outcomes is a central concept of the exposome, a measure of environmental exposures throughout a lifetime. Research suggests that telomere length (TL) and biologic factors involved in telomere stability may provide an understanding of the effects of gene-environment interaction on disease risk. Telomeres, thus, have become important biomarkers for aging as well as for stress-related disease. However, incorporating telomeres into biobehavioral research requires consideration of several aspects of the exposome. Internal and external modifiable and nonmodifiable exposures have the potential to influence TL. Future research utilizing the concept of the exposome will provide meaningful findings related to exposure sources as well as dosage and duration across the life span that influence telomere biology and disease occurrence. Such findings can be translated into clinical practice and may provide a basis for personalized disease prevention and treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra E Lyon
- College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Alison Montpetit
- Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Victoria Menzies
- Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Nancy Jallo
- Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, Richmond, VA, USA
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Cui G, Sun J, Zhang L, Li R, Wang Y, Cianflone K, Ding H, Wang DW. Lack of causal relationship between leukocyte telomere length and coronary heart disease. Atherosclerosis 2014; 233:375-380. [PMID: 24530766 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2014.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Revised: 01/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between genetic variation in telomerase RNA component (TERC) and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS AND RESULTS An analysis of LTL was conducted, focusing on two SNPs in 2 community-based cohort populations comprising 3500 Chinese Han individuals. In addition, LTL ratio was determined in a case-control setting involving 4351 participants: 2211 healthy individuals and 2140 CHD patients. The association between LTL and the presence and extent of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular lesions were tested. Results confirmed the association of rs12696304 and rs16847897 with LTL in the Chinese Han population (P=1.63×10(-6) and P=1.44×10(-7), respectively). However, these SNPs confer a moderate risk for CHD but did not achieve significant threshold after multiple corrections. Decreased LTL ratio was associated with CHD (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.34; P<0.01). In addition, the LTL ratio in CHD patients was related to numbers of vascular disease lesions. CONCLUSIONS Our results do not support a causal role of LTL for the development of CHD. However, LTL may be related to complex conditions associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanglin Cui
- Departments of Internal Medicine and the Institute of Hypertension, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095# Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Departments of Internal Medicine and the Institute of Hypertension, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095# Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Departments of Internal Medicine and the Institute of Hypertension, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095# Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Rui Li
- Departments of Internal Medicine and the Institute of Hypertension, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095# Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Departments of Internal Medicine and the Institute of Hypertension, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095# Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Katherine Cianflone
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Y4332, 2725 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Hu Ding
- Departments of Internal Medicine and the Institute of Hypertension, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095# Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Dao Wen Wang
- Departments of Internal Medicine and the Institute of Hypertension, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095# Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430030, China.
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Mainous AG, Diaz VA. Telomere length as a risk marker for cardiovascular disease: the next big thing? Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2014; 10:969-71. [DOI: 10.1586/erm.10.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Mainous AG, Wright RU, Hulihan MM, Twal WO, McLaren CE, Diaz VA, McLaren GD, Argraves WS, Grant AM. Elevated transferrin saturation, health-related quality of life and telomere length. Biometals 2013; 27:135-41. [PMID: 24337410 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-013-9693-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 12/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
We sought to examine the relationship between elevated transferrin saturation (TS) and measures of health status (telomere length and patient-reported health-related quality of life) to assess whether elevated TS is associated with negative patient outcomes beyond increased risk for morbidity and mortality, using a cross-sectional analysis of the Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening Study supplemented with assays for leukocyte telomere length in adults ≥25 years old (n = 669). Among individuals with elevated TS (≥45 % for women and ≥50 % for men), who also had a usual source of care, only 5.2 % reported ever being told by a doctor that they had an elevated iron condition. In a fully adjusted general linear regression model controlling for demographic characteristics as well as health conditions associated with iron overload, elevated TS versus non-elevated TS was associated with worse general health status (60.4 vs. 63.8, P < 0.05), mental health status (76.5 vs. 82.2, P < 0.0001) and shorter telomere length (241.4 vs. 261.3, P < 0.05). Increased surveillance of elevated TS may be in order as elevated TS is associated with decreased health status and very few patients with elevated TS are aware of their condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arch G Mainous
- Departments of Health Services Research, Management & Policy, and Community Health and Family Medicine, Health Science Center, University of Florida, PO Box 100195, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA,
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Kim JH, Kim HK, Ko JH, Bang H, Lee DC. The relationship between leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number and telomere length in community-dwelling elderly women. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67227. [PMID: 23785520 PMCID: PMC3681770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Both telomere length and mitochondrial function are accepted as reflective indices of aging. Recent studies have shown that telomere dysfunction may influence impaired mitochondrial biogenesis and function. However, there has been no study regarding the possible association between telomere and mitochondrial function in humans. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to identify any relationships between mitochondrial and telomere function. Methods The present study included 129 community-dwelling, elderly women. The leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number and telomere length were measured using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Anthropometric measurement, biochemical blood testing, a depression screening questionnaire using a 15-question geriatric depression scale (GDS-15), and a cognitive function test using the Korean version of the mini mental state examination (K-MMSE) were performed. Results Leukocyte mtDNA copy number was positively associated with telomere length (r=0.39, p=<0.0001) and K-MMSE score (r=0.06, p=0.02). Additionally, leukocyte mtDNA copy number was negatively correlated with GDS-15 score (r=-0.17, p=0.04). Age (r=-0.15, p=0.09), waist circumference (r=-0.16, p=0.07), and serum ferritin level (r=-0.13, p=0.07) tended to be inversely correlated with leukocyte mtDNA copy number. With a stepwise multiple regression analysis, telomere length was found to be an independent factor associated with leukocyte mtDNA copy number after adjustment for confounding variables including age, body mass index, waist circumference, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, hs-CRP, serum ferritin, HOMA-IR, K-MMSE, GDS-15, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, currently smoking, alcohol drinking, and regular exercise. Conclusions This study showed that leukocyte mtDNA copy number was positively correlated with leukocyte telomere length in community-dwelling elderly women. Our findings suggest that telomere function may influence mitochondrial function in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Ha Kim
- Department of Family Medicine, Chung-Ang University Healthcare System, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Kyung Kim
- Health Promotion Center, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae-Hong Ko
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyoweon Bang
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
- * E-mail: (D-CL); (HB)
| | - Duk-Chul Lee
- Department of Family Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- * E-mail: (D-CL); (HB)
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Leukocyte telomere length and coronary artery calcification in Palestinians. Atherosclerosis 2013; 229:363-8. [PMID: 23880188 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 05/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with higher incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and increased mortality. We examined the association of LTL with coronary artery calcification (CAC), which reflects the cumulative burden of coronary atherosclerosis, in an urban Arab sample of Palestinians, a population at high risk of CHD. METHODS Using a cross-sectional design, a random sample of East Jerusalem residents, comprising 250 men aged 45-77 and women aged 55-76 and free of CHD or past stroke, was drawn from the Israel national population register. LTL was measured by Southern blots. CAC was determined by 16-slice multidetector helical CT scanning using Agatston scoring. We applied multivariable logistic modeling to examine the association between sex-specific tertiles of LTL and CAC (comparing scores >100 vs. <100, and the upper third vs. the lower 2 thirds), controlling for age, sex, education and coronary risk factors. RESULTS CAC, evident in 65% of men and 52% of women, was strongly associated with age (sex-adjusted Spearman's rho 0.495). The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios for CAC >100 (found in 30% of men and 29% of women) were 2.92 (95% CI 1.28-6.68) and 2.29 (0.99-5.30) for the lower and mid-tertiles of LTL vs. the upper tertile, respectively (Ptrend = 0.008). Findings were similar for CAC scores in the upper tertile (Ptrend = 0.006), and persisted after the exclusion of patients with diabetes or receiving statins. CONCLUSIONS Shorter LTL was associated with a greater prevalence of asymptomatic coronary atherosclerosis in an urban Arab population-based sample. Mechanisms underlying this association should be sought.
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Mainous AG, Wright RU, Hulihan MM, Twal WO, McLaren CE, Diaz VA, McLaren GD, Argraves WS, Grant AM. Telomere length and elevated iron: the influence of phenotype and HFE genotype. Am J Hematol 2013; 88:492-6. [PMID: 23512844 PMCID: PMC3784668 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.23438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Revised: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Elevated body iron stores are associated with morbidity and mortality due to oxidative stress. Hereditary hemochromatosis, a common condition caused by HFE gene mutations, can lead to excess iron storage and disease but clinical penetrance of HFE gene mutations is low and many people with elevated iron stores lack HFE mutations. We analyzed data from the Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening Study to assess the relationship among HFE genotype (individuals with either homozygous or compound heterozygous status for C282Y and/or H63D HFE mutations were defined as genotype positive, or G+), elevated iron phenotype (individuals exceeding gender-specific transferrin saturation and serum ferritin threshold levels were considered phenotype positive, or P+), and leukocyte telomere length, a marker of biological aging and cumulative oxidative stress. In unadjusted analyses in comparison to individuals who were G-P-, G+P- were not significantly different (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.26-2.04), while the G+P+ (OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.15-3.56), and G-P+ (OR 2.24; 95% CI 1.5-3.29) had increased risk of short telomeres (<=25th percentile) rather than long telomeres (>=75th percentile). In analyses adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity, the effect of individuals with elevated iron phenotypes having short telomeres persisted with G+P+ individuals (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.02-3.72), and G-P+ individuals (OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.39-3.39) being significantly different from the G-P- group. In conclusion, elevated iron phenotype, but not HFE genotype, was associated with shortened telomeres. Further studies will be needed to determine whether telomere length provides a marker for morbidities specifically associated with iron overload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arch G Mainous
- Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, SC 29425, USA.
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Sanders JL, Newman AB. Telomere length in epidemiology: a biomarker of aging, age-related disease, both, or neither? Epidemiol Rev 2013; 35:112-31. [PMID: 23302541 DOI: 10.1093/epirev/mxs008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 384] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein caps flanking DNA. They are shortened by cell division and oxidative stress and are lengthened by the enzyme telomerase and DNA exchange during mitosis. Short telomeres induce cellular senescence. As an indicator of oxidative stress and senescence (2 processes thought to be fundamental to aging), telomere length is hypothesized to be a biomarker of aging. This hypothesis has been tested for more than a decade with epidemiologic study methods. In cross-sectional studies, researchers have investigated whether leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with demographic, behavioral, and health variables. In prospective studies, baseline LTL has been used to predict mortality and occasionally other adverse health outcomes. Conflicting data have generated heated debate about the value of LTL as a biomarker of overall aging. In this review, we address the epidemiologic data on LTL and demonstrate that shorter LTL is associated with older age, male gender, Caucasian race, and possibly atherosclerosis; associations with other markers of health are equivocal. We discuss the reasons for discrepancy across studies, including a detailed review of methods for measuring telomere length as they apply to epidemiology. Finally, we conclude with questions about LTL as a biomarker of aging and how epidemiology can be used to answer these questions.
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Cai Z, Yan LJ, Ratka A. Telomere Shortening and Alzheimer’s Disease. Neuromolecular Med 2012; 15:25-48. [DOI: 10.1007/s12017-012-8207-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2012] [Accepted: 11/02/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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De Meyer T, Van Daele CM, De Buyzere ML, Denil S, De Bacquer D, Segers P, Cooman L, De Backer GG, Gillebert TC, Bekaert S, Rietzschel ER. No shorter telomeres in subjects with a family history of cardiovascular disease in the Asklepios study. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2012; 32:3076-81. [PMID: 23087363 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.112.300341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Shorter telomere length is associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events, but the question of causality is complicated by the intertwined effects of inheritance, aging, and lifestyle factors on both telomere length and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some studies indicated that healthy offspring of coronary artery disease patients exhibited shorter telomeres than subjects without a family history. Importantly, this result would imply that inheritance of shorter telomeres is a primary abnormality associated with an increased risk of CVD, the so-called Telomere Hypothesis of CVD. Therefore, we aimed at further validating the latter results in the large, population-representative Asklepios Study. METHODS AND RESULTS Peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length was measured using telomere restriction fragment analysis in the young to middle-aged (≈ 35-55 years old) Asklepios study population, free from overt CVD, and could be successfully combined with data from the Asklepios Family History Database for 2136 subjects. No shorter telomere length could be found in healthy subjects with a family history of CVD compared with those without. CONCLUSIONS These findings cast serious doubt on the hypothesis that telomere length is shorter in families with an increased risk of CVD and do not support the Telomere Hypothesis of CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim De Meyer
- Department of Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Vera E, Bernardes de Jesus B, Foronda M, Flores JM, Blasco MA. The rate of increase of short telomeres predicts longevity in mammals. Cell Rep 2012; 2:732-7. [PMID: 23022483 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2012.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 07/11/2012] [Accepted: 08/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrantly short telomeres result in decreased longevity in both humans and mice with defective telomere maintenance. Normal populations of humans and mice present high interindividual variation in telomere length, but it is unknown whether this is associated with their lifespan potential. To address this issue, we performed a longitudinal telomere length study along the lifespan of wild-type and transgenic telomerase reverse transcriptase mice. We found that mouse telomeres shorten ∼100 times faster than human telomeres. Importantly, the rate of increase in the percentage of short telomeres, rather than the rate of telomere shortening per month, was a significant predictor of lifespan in both mouse cohorts, and those individuals who showed a higher rate of increase in the percentage of short telomeres were also the ones with a shorter lifespan. These findings demonstrate that short telomeres have a direct impact on longevity in mammals, and they highlight the importance of performing longitudinal telomere studies to predict longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Vera
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Research Center, Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, E-28029 Madrid, Spain
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Abstract
Studies in humans and in mice have highlighted the importance of short telomeres and impaired mitochondrial function in driving age-related functional decline in the heart. Although telomere and mitochondrial dysfunction have been viewed mainly in isolation, recent studies in telomerase-deficient mice have provided evidence for an intimate link between these two processes. Telomere dysfunction induces a profound p53-dependent repression of the master regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis and function, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC)-1α and PGC-1β in the heart, which leads to bioenergetic compromise due to impaired oxidative phosphorylation and ATP generation. This telomere-p53-PGC mitochondrial/metabolic axis integrates many factors linked to heart aging including increased DNA damage, p53 activation, mitochondrial, and metabolic dysfunction and provides a molecular basis of how dysfunctional telomeres can compromise cardiomyocytes and stem cell compartments in the heart to precipitate cardiac aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javid Moslehi
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Grahame TJ, Schlesinger RB. Oxidative stress-induced telomeric erosion as a mechanism underlying airborne particulate matter-related cardiovascular disease. Part Fibre Toxicol 2012; 9:21. [PMID: 22713210 PMCID: PMC3464961 DOI: 10.1186/1743-8977-9-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2012] [Accepted: 05/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) pollution is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide, the majority due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). While many potential pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed, there is not yet a consensus as to which are most important in causing pollution-related morbidity/mortality. Nor is there consensus regarding which specific types of PM are most likely to affect public health in this regard. One toxicological mechanism linking exposure to airborne PM with CVD outcomes is oxidative stress, a contributor to the development of CVD risk factors including atherosclerosis. Recent work suggests that accelerated shortening of telomeres and, thus, early senescence of cells may be an important pathway by which oxidative stress may accelerate biological aging and the resultant development of age-related morbidity. This pathway may explain a significant proportion of PM-related adverse health outcomes, since shortened telomeres accelerate the progression of many diseases. There is limited but consistent evidence that vehicular emissions produce oxidative stress in humans. Given that oxidative stress is associated with accelerated erosion of telomeres, and that shortened telomeres are linked with acceleration of biological ageing and greater incidence of various age-related pathology, including CVD, it is hypothesized that associations noted between certain pollution types and sources and oxidative stress may reflect a mechanism by which these pollutants result in CVD-related morbidity and mortality, namely accelerated aging via enhanced erosion of telomeres. This paper reviews the literature providing links among oxidative stress, accelerated erosion of telomeres, CVD, and specific sources and types of air pollutants. If certain PM species/sources might be responsible for adverse health outcomes via the proposed mechanism, perhaps the pathway to reducing mortality/morbidity from PM would become clearer. Not only would pollution reduction imperatives be more focused, but interventions which could reduce oxidative stress would become all the more important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Grahame
- United States Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585, USA.
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Player MS, Peterson LE. Anxiety disorders, hypertension, and cardiovascular risk: a review. Int J Psychiatry Med 2012; 41:365-77. [PMID: 22238841 DOI: 10.2190/pm.41.4.f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), and anxiety disorders all cause substantial morbidity to patients and costs to the healthcare system. Associations between these diseases have been hypothesized and studied for decades. In particular, psychosocial stressors associated with anxiety disorders raise autonomic arousal via the hypothalamic-pituitary axis which increases circulating catecholamines. This heightened arousal is associated with an increased risk of hypertension and a pro-inflammatory state and, consequently, development of coronary heart disease. This association holds across the spectrum of anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder) and also when controlling for comorbid conditions such as depression and physical ailments. Multiple cross sectional studies reveal a positive association between anxiety and hypertension. These associations are bidirectional, with those with hypertension being more likely to have anxiety and those with anxiety being more likely to have hypertension. However, a few studies have shown no association. Longitudinal studies point to an increased risk of development of hypertension in patients who suffer from anxiety. More convincing studies show links between anxiety symptoms and disorders, including panic disorder and PTSD, and cardiovascular outcomes. Drawing broad conclusions from these studies is challenging, however, given the multiplicity of scales used to measure anxiety disorders. Anxiety, hypertension, and CHD are common conditions seen in primary care, and anxiety may be an important predictor of future CHD outcomes. Better recognition of the association of these conditions and the possible roles of each in development of the other should alert primary care providers to be vigilant in monitoring and treating anxiety, hypertension, and CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marty S Player
- Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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Aviv A. Genetics of leukocyte telomere length and its role in atherosclerosis. Mutat Res 2012; 730:68-74. [PMID: 21600224 PMCID: PMC3202050 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2011.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2011] [Revised: 04/27/2011] [Accepted: 05/02/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Humans display a large inter-individual variation in leukocyte telomere length (LTL), which is influenced by heredity, sex, race/ethnicity, paternal age at conception and environmental exposures. LTL dynamics (birth LTL and its age-dependent attrition thereafter) mirror telomere dynamics in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). LTL at birth is evidently a major determinant of LTL throughout the human lifespan, such that individuals endowed with short (or long) LTL at birth probably have short (or long) LTL later in life. Therefore, the associations of short LTL with atherosclerosis and with diminished survival in the elderly may relate to short birth LTL, accelerated age-dependent LTL attrition, or both. The mechanisms underlying these associations are still not well understood, but they stem in part from genetic factors in control of telomere maintenance and the rate of HSC replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Aviv
- The Center for Human Development and Aging, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
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Strandberg TE, Saijonmaa O, Tilvis RS, Pitkala KH, Strandberg AY, Miettinen TA, Fyhrquist F. Association of Telomere Length in Older Men With Mortality and Midlife Body Mass Index and Smoking. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2011; 66:815-20. [DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glr064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Abstract
Aging is a biological process that affects most cells, organisms and species. Human aging is associated with increased susceptibility to a variety of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, neurological diseases and cancer. Despite the remarkable progress made during the last two decades, our understanding of the biology of aging remains incomplete. Telomere biology has recently emerged as an important player in the aging and disease process.
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Telomere length and cardiovascular aging: the means to the ends? Ageing Res Rev 2011; 10:297-303. [PMID: 21109027 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2010.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2010] [Revised: 11/09/2010] [Accepted: 11/12/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiologic and other evidence clearly indicates that peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length, a systemic marker for biological aging, can be useful as a cardiovascular aging biomarker. Although telomere biology might yield new insights into the underlying molecular biology of vascular aging and even radically improve current cardiovascular risk stratification, the specific nature of the association between telomere length and cardiovascular disease still remains to be elucidated. Here, we review several candidate hypotheses and critically review supporting and contesting scientific evidence for the underlying theories. For each hypothesis, we discuss the potential implications. We conclude that the most promising theory is based on an acceleration of the telomere attrition rate due to cardiovascular aging related factors, possibly complemented by telomere mediated hematopoietic senescence.
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Wang YY, Chen AF, Wang HZ, Xie LY, Sui KX, Zhang QY. Association of shorter mean telomere length with large artery stiffness in patients with coronary heart disease. Aging Male 2011; 14:27-32. [PMID: 21067315 DOI: 10.3109/13685538.2010.529196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence implicates leukocyte telomere length (LTL) shortening as a potential risk predictor for cardiovascular disease. Arterial stiffness chronicles the cumulative burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors. Therefore, the capacity of LTL to predict arterial stiffness was examined. METHODS A total of 275 unrelated Chinese males: 163 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 112 healthy controls, 40-73 years of age were included in this study. The relative telomere length of leukocytes was determined by a real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Large artery stiffness was measured with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). RESULTS The relative telomere length (T/S) ratio was significantly shorter in patients with CAD (0.79 +/- 0.26) than in control subjects (1.08 +/- 0.22) (p<0.001). The correlation between LTL and PWV in patients with CAD was stronger than that in the controls (r= -0.467, r(2)=0.227, p<0.001 for patients with CAD versus r= -0.223; r(2)=0.050; p=0.018 for controls). The log(e)-transformed T/S ratio was inversely correlated with age (r= -0.345; p<0.001), PWV (r= -0.326; p<0.001) and C-reactive protein ( r= -0.133; p=0.027). CONCLUSIONS The data show an association of leukocyte telomere length shortening with increased arterial stiffness and cardiovascular burden, suggesting that telomere length is a biomarker of large artery elasticity and CAD. Further studies are warranted to study the role of LTL dynamics in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ying Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Affiliated Qingdao Municipal Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, Shandong, 266011, PR China
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Mainous AG, Everett CJ, Diaz VA, Baker R, Mangino M, Codd V, Samani NJ. Leukocyte telomere length and marital status among middle-aged adults. Age Ageing 2011; 40:73-8. [PMID: 20817935 PMCID: PMC3000178 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afq118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2010] [Accepted: 07/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND being unmarried is associated with worse health and increased mortality risk. Telomere length has emerged as a marker for biological ageing but it is unclear how telomere length relates to marital status. OBJECTIVE to examine the relationship between telomere length and marital status in a sample of middle-aged adults. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS cross-sectional analysis among 321 adults aged 40-64 years. METHODS telomere length was measured by PCR (T/S ratio). Participants provided information on healthy lifestyle activities including smoking, alcohol use, diet, exercise, obesity as well as social support. RESULTS participants married or living with a partner had a mean T/S ratio of 1.70 and those widowed, divorced, separated or never married had a mean T/S ratio of 1.58 in a model adjusted for age, gender and race/ethnicity (P < 0.001). When the analysis was further adjusted for diet, alcohol consumption, exercise, smoking, social support, poverty and obesity, persons married or living with a partner had a higher mean T/S ratio of 1.69 than their unmarried counterparts (1.59) (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS these results indicate that unmarried individuals have shorter telomeres. This relationship between marital status and telomere length is independent of presumed benefits of marriage such as social support and a healthier lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arch G Mainous
- Medical University of South Carolina, Family Medicine, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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