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Mlakar V, Akkouh I, Halff EF, Srivastava DP, Birkenæs V, Ueland T, Quintana DS, Ormerod MBEG, Steen NE, Djurovic S, Andreassen OA, Aas M. Telomere biology and its maintenance in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Exploring links to cognition. Schizophr Res 2024; 272:89-95. [PMID: 39208769 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Contemporary research suggests reduced telomere length in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SZ) compared to age-adjusted non-affected individuals. However, the role of telomere maintenance and telomere repair in SZ is poorly understood as well as the involvement of telomere biology in cognitive abnormalities in SZ. METHODS The study consisted of 758 participants (SZ [n = 357] and healthy controls, HC [n = 401]) collected as part of the Norwegian TOP study. Participants were assessed with standardized neuropsychological tests measuring five cognitive domains. Leucocyte telomere length (TL) was measured via blood and determined by quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) providing a telomere to single copy ratio (T/S ratio), used to estimate the mean telomere length. Telomerase activity was assessed by the expression levels of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) and Telomerase RNA Component (TERC) genes. To assess telomere maintenance and telomere repair we calculated the telomerase expression to TL ratio (TERT/TL and TERC/TL respectively). RESULTS Patients had reduced TERT (F = 5.03, p = 0.03), but not TERC expression (F = 1.04, p = 0.31), and higher TERT/TL (F = 6.68, p = 0.01) and TERC/TL (F = 6.71, p = 0.01), adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity. No statistically significant association was observed between any of the telomere biology markers and the cognitive domains (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Our study shows changes in TERT expression and telomere maintenance and telomere repair in SZ compared HC. However, the role of telomere biology in the mechanism underlying cognitive impairment in psychosis seems limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vid Mlakar
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Ibrahim Akkouh
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Els F Halff
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Deepak P Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Viktoria Birkenæs
- Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Torill Ueland
- Section for Clinical Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel S Quintana
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NevSom, Department of Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Monica B E G Ormerod
- Section for Clinical Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Nils Eiel Steen
- Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Norway; Section for Clinical Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Monica Aas
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England, UK
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Apetroaei MM, Fragkiadaki P, Velescu BȘ, Baliou S, Renieri E, Dinu-Pirvu CE, Drăgănescu D, Vlăsceanu AM, Nedea MI(I, Udeanu DI, Docea AO, Tsatsakis A, Arsene AL. Pharmacotherapeutic Considerations on Telomere Biology: The Positive Effect of Pharmacologically Active Substances on Telomere Length. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7694. [PMID: 39062937 PMCID: PMC11276808 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are part of chromatin structures containing repeated DNA sequences, which function as protective caps at the ends of chromosomes and prevent DNA degradation and recombination, thus ensuring the integrity of the genome. While telomere length (TL) can be genetically inherited, TL shortening has been associated with ageing and multiple xenobiotics and bioactive substances. TL has been characterised as a reliable biomarker for the predisposition to developing chronic pathologies and their progression. This narrative review aims to provide arguments in favour of including TL measurements in a complex prognostic and diagnostic panel of chronic pathologies and the importance of assessing the effect of different pharmacologically active molecules on the biology of telomeres. Medicines used in the management of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, schizophrenia, hormone replacement therapy at menopause, danazol, melatonin, and probiotics have been studied for their positive protective effects against TL shortening. All these classes of drugs are analysed in the present review, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miruna-Maria Apetroaei
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Persefoni Fragkiadaki
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (P.F.); (S.B.); (E.R.); (A.T.)
- Lifeplus S.A., Science & Technological Park of Crete, C Building, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Bruno Ștefan Velescu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Stella Baliou
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (P.F.); (S.B.); (E.R.); (A.T.)
- Lifeplus S.A., Science & Technological Park of Crete, C Building, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Elisavet Renieri
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (P.F.); (S.B.); (E.R.); (A.T.)
- Lifeplus S.A., Science & Technological Park of Crete, C Building, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Cristina Elena Dinu-Pirvu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Doina Drăgănescu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Ana Maria Vlăsceanu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Marina Ionela (Ilie) Nedea
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Denisa Ioana Udeanu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
| | - Anca Oana Docea
- Department of Toxicology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Artistidis Tsatsakis
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (P.F.); (S.B.); (E.R.); (A.T.)
- Lifeplus S.A., Science & Technological Park of Crete, C Building, Vassilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Andreea Letiția Arsene
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-M.A.); (C.E.D.-P.); (D.D.); (A.M.V.); (M.I.N.); (D.I.U.); (A.L.A.)
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Uzuncakmak SK, Dirican E, Ozcan H, Takim U. Relation of ATPase6 Mutations and Telomere Length in Schizophrenia Patients. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE : THE OFFICIAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN COLLEGE OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 21:162-170. [PMID: 36700322 PMCID: PMC9889911 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2023.21.1.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Objective Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder. Mutations in mitochondrial genes can change energy metabolism. Telomere is a tandem sequence at the end of chromosomes. Shorter telomere length has been shown in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between ATPase6 gene mutations and telomere length in schizophrenia patients. Methods Blood samples of 34 patients and 34 healthy controls were used. In this study conventional PCR, Sanger sequencing technic and real-time PCR were utilized. Results Five different mutations (A8860G, A8836, G8697A, C8676T, and A8701G) in the ATPase6 gene were identified in schizophrenia patients. The most seen mutation was A8860G (94%). Telomere length analysis indicated the relation of ATPase6 gene mutations and telomere length variations (p = 0.001). Patients carrying the A8860G mutation had shorter telomere lengths than patients carrying other mutations. Comparing telomere length between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls revealed that the mean telomere length of schizophrenia patients was shorter than healthy controls (p = 0.006). The demographic analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between marital status and telomere length (p = 0.011). Besides that, the duration of the illness is another factor that impacts telomere length (p = 0.044). There is no significant relation between telomere length and other clinical and demographic characteristics including education status, age, gender, etc. Conclusion In conclusion, telomere length and ATPase6 gene mutations have a significant relation. Studies with larger patient populations and investigation of other mitochondrial gene mutations will make the clearer link between telomere length and mitochondrial mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevgi Karabulut Uzuncakmak
- Health Services Vocational School, Bayburt University, Bayburt, Turkey,Address for correspondence: Sevgi Karabulut Uzuncakmak Health Services Vocational School, Bayburt University, Dede Korkut Campus of Bayburt University, 21th February Street, Bayburt 69000, Turkey, E-mail: , ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9714-0349, Ebubekir Dirican, Health Services Vocational School, Bayburt University, Dede Korkut Campus of Bayburt University, 21th February Street, Bayburt 69000, Turkey, E-mail: , ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9260-5223
| | - Ebubekir Dirican
- Health Services Vocational School, Bayburt University, Bayburt, Turkey,Address for correspondence: Sevgi Karabulut Uzuncakmak Health Services Vocational School, Bayburt University, Dede Korkut Campus of Bayburt University, 21th February Street, Bayburt 69000, Turkey, E-mail: , ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9714-0349, Ebubekir Dirican, Health Services Vocational School, Bayburt University, Dede Korkut Campus of Bayburt University, 21th February Street, Bayburt 69000, Turkey, E-mail: , ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9260-5223
| | - Halil Ozcan
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Ugur Takim
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
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Al Khleifat A, Iacoangeli A, Jones AR, van Vugt JJFA, Moisse M, Shatunov A, Zwamborn RAJ, van der Spek RAA, Cooper-Knock J, Topp S, van Rheenen W, Kenna B, Van Eijk KR, Kenna K, Byrne R, López V, Opie-Martin S, Vural A, Campos Y, Weber M, Smith B, Fogh I, Silani V, Morrison KE, Dobson R, van Es MA, McLaughlin RL, Vourc’h P, Chio A, Corcia P, de Carvalho M, Gotkine M, Panades MP, Mora JS, Shaw PJ, Landers JE, Glass JD, Shaw CE, Basak N, Hardiman O, Robberecht W, Van Damme P, van den Berg LH, Veldink JH, Al-Chalabi A. Telomere length analysis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using large-scale whole genome sequence data. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1050596. [PMID: 36589292 PMCID: PMC9799999 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1050596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons, leading to progressive weakness of voluntary muscles, with death following from neuromuscular respiratory failure, typically within 3 to 5 years. There is a strong genetic contribution to ALS risk. In 10% or more, a family history of ALS or frontotemporal dementia is obtained, and the Mendelian genes responsible for ALS in such families have now been identified in about 50% of cases. Only about 14% of apparently sporadic ALS is explained by known genetic variation, suggesting that other forms of genetic variation are important. Telomeres maintain DNA integrity during cellular replication, differ between sexes, and shorten naturally with age. Sex and age are risk factors for ALS and we therefore investigated telomere length in ALS. Methods Samples were from Project MinE, an international ALS whole genome sequencing consortium that includes phenotype data. For validation we used donated brain samples from motor cortex from people with ALS and controls. Ancestry and relatedness were evaluated by principal components analysis and relationship matrices of DNA microarray data. Whole genome sequence data were from Illumina HiSeq platforms and aligned using the Isaac pipeline. TelSeq was used to quantify telomere length using whole genome sequence data. We tested the association of telomere length with ALS and ALS survival using Cox regression. Results There were 6,580 whole genome sequences, reducing to 6,195 samples (4,315 from people with ALS and 1,880 controls) after quality control, and 159 brain samples (106 ALS, 53 controls). Accounting for age and sex, there was a 20% (95% CI 14%, 25%) increase of telomere length in people with ALS compared to controls (p = 1.1 × 10-12), validated in the brain samples (p = 0.03). Those with shorter telomeres had a 10% increase in median survival (p = 5.0×10-7). Although there was no difference in telomere length between sporadic ALS and familial ALS (p=0.64), telomere length in 334 people with ALS due to expanded C9orf72 repeats was shorter than in those without expanded C9orf72 repeats (p = 5.0×10-4). Discussion Although telomeres shorten with age, longer telomeres are a risk factor for ALS and worsen prognosis. Longer telomeres are associated with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Al Khleifat
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alfredo Iacoangeli
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ashley R. Jones
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joke J. F. A. van Vugt
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Matthieu Moisse
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aleksey Shatunov
- Institute of Medicine, North-Eastern Federal University, Yakutsk, Russia
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ramona A. J. Zwamborn
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rick A. A. van der Spek
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Johnathan Cooper-Knock
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Topp
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wouter van Rheenen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Brendan Kenna
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Kristel R. Van Eijk
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Kevin Kenna
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ross Byrne
- Complex Trait Genomics Laboratory, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Victoria López
- Computational Biology Unit, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sarah Opie-Martin
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Atay Vural
- School of Medicine, Translational Medicine Research Center-NDAL, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Yolanda Campos
- Computational Biology Unit, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Markus Weber
- School of Medicine, Translational Medicine Research Center-NDAL, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit/ALS Clinic, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Bradley Smith
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isabella Fogh
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Karen E. Morrison
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Dobson
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A. van Es
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Russell L. McLaughlin
- Complex Trait Genomics Laboratory, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Adriano Chio
- Department of Neuroscience, ALS Centre, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Citta della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy
| | - Philippe Corcia
- Centre SLA, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
- Federation des Centres SLA Tours and Limoges, LITORALS, Tours, France
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Physiology Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marc Gotkine
- Department of Neurology, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | | | - Pamela J. Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - John E. Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Jonathan D. Glass
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Christopher E. Shaw
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nazli Basak
- School of Medicine, Translational Medicine Research Center-NDAL, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Wim Robberecht
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philip Van Damme
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leonard H. van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jan H. Veldink
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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Rungnirundorn T, Krusong K, Kalayasiri R, Maes M. Leukocyte telomere length is not shortened in methamphetamine dependence or methamphetamine-induced psychosis but is increased following traumatic events. World J Biol Psychiatry 2022; 23:613-621. [PMID: 34895035 PMCID: PMC9991870 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2021.2016957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine the effects of methamphetamine (MA) use and dependence and MA withdrawal symptoms on the telomere length and whether shortening of the latter is associated with MA-induced psychosis (MIP). METHODS This study included 185 MA-abuse, 118 MA-dependent, and 67 MIP patients, diagnosed using DSM-IV criteria. The Semi-structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and Alcoholism (SSADDA) questionnaire was employed to collect MA-related data. MIP was confirmed using the Methamphetamine Experience Questionnaire (MEQ). The leukocyte telomere length was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction measuring the Telomere/Single gene ratio (T/S ratio). Data were analysed using multivariate statistical analyses. RESULTS There were no significant associations between the T/S ratio and severity of MA-use, MIP, and MA withdrawal symptoms. MIP was significantly predicted by alcohol dependence, antisocial personality disorder, and MA-use severity. There were significantly positive associations between the T/S ratio and previous traumatic and life-threatening events. The T/S ratio was not affected by alcohol and nicotine dependence. Alcohol and nicotine dependence, antisocial personality disorder, and severity of MA use increased risk of MA withdrawal symptoms. CONCLUSION MIP and MA-use severity are not associated with leukocyte telomere length, but previous traumatic and life-threatening events are associated with increased telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kuakarun Krusong
- Structural and Computational Biology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rasmon Kalayasiri
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Michael Maes
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, PO Box 281, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
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Leukocyte telomere length in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2968-2975. [PMID: 35393557 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01541-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Telomere length may serve as a biomarker of cellular aging. The literature assessing telomere length in schizophrenia contains conflicting results. OBJECTIVE To assess differences in leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in peripheral blood in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders and healthy controls and to explore the effect of potential confounding variables. DATA SOURCES A search of Ovid MEDLINE, and Proquest databases was conducted to identify appropriate studies published from database inception through December 2020. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO-ID: CRD42021233280. STUDY SELECTION The initial literature search yielded 192 studies. After study selection in 3 phases, we included 29 samples from 22 studies in the meta-analysis database. DATA EXTRACTION We used random effects and meta-regression models to derive Cohen d values with pooled 95% confidence intervals (CI) as estimates of effect size (ES) and to test effects of potential moderators. RESULTS The overall meta-analysis included 4145 patients with schizophrenia and related disorders and 4184 healthy controls and showed that LTL was significantly shorter in patients, with a small to medium effect size (ES, -0.388; 95% CI, -0.492 to -0.283; p < 0.001). Subgroup meta-analyses did not find a significant effect of age or illness duration on differences in LTL in patients with psychosis relative to controls. Meta-regression analyses showed that none of the putative moderators had a significant effect on effect size estimates. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis find further support for the hypothesis of accelerated cellular aging in schizophrenia and related disorders and highlights the need for large longitudinal studies with repeated LTL measurements over time and appropriate assessments of associated factors.
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Aging biological markers in a cohort of antipsychotic-naïve first-episode psychosis patients. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 132:105350. [PMID: 34271521 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe and multifactorial disorder with an unknown causative pathophysiology. Abnormalities in neurodevelopmental and aging processes have been reported. Relative telomere length (RTL) and DNA methylation age (DMA), well-known biomarkers for estimating biological age, are both commonly altered in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. However, few studies investigated these aging biomarkers in first-episode psychosis (FEP) and in antipsychotic-naïve patients. To cover the existing gap regarding DMA and RTL in FEP and antipsychotic treatment, we aimed to verify whether those aging markers could be associated with psychosis and treatment response. Thus, we evaluated these measures in the blood of FEP antipsychotic-naïve patients and healthy controls (HC), as well as the response to antipsychotics after 10 weeks of treatment with risperidone. RTL was measured in 392 subjects, being 80 FEP and 312 HC using qPCR, while DMA was analyzed in a subset of 60 HC, 60 FEP patients (antipsychotic-naïve) and 59 FEP-10W (after treatment) using the "Multi-tissue Predictor"and the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip Kit. We observed diminished DMA and longer RTL in FEP patients before treatment compared to healthy controls, indicating a decelerated aging process in those patients. We found no statistical difference between responder and non-responder patients at baseline for both markers. An increased DMA was observed in patients after 10 weeks of treatment, however, after adjusting for blood cell composition, no significant association remained. Our findings indicate a decelerated aging process in the early phases of the disease.
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Schürhoff F, Corfdir C, Pignon B, Lajnef M, Richard JR, Marcos E, Pelissolo A, Leboyer M, Adnot S, Jamain S, Szöke A. No alteration of leukocyte telomere length in first episode psychosis. Psychiatry Res 2021; 301:113941. [PMID: 33945962 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Both shorter telomeres and schizophrenia have been associated with a decrease in life expectancy. Furthermore, several studies found a shorter telomere length (TL) in schizophrenia. Understanding whether or not telomere shortening is directly related to pathophysiology of schizophrenia or is a consequence of a cumulative exposure to chronic stress is of major importance. Comparing the TL of subjects at the very beginning of the disease (FEP) and control subjects could help to decide between these two hypotheses. The aim of the present study was to compare TL between FEP subjects (N=91) and controls (N=137). After accounting for multiple potential confounders, no significant association was observed between FEP and TL. Our result is consistent with the hypothesis that psycho-social stress / adversities and stressful situations in people with schizophrenia affect TL rather than that telomere erosion contributes to the development of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck Schürhoff
- Univ Paris Est Creteil (UPEC), AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires « H. Mondor », DMU IMPACT, INSERM, IMRB, translational Neuropsychiatry, Fondation FondaMental F-94010 Creteil, France.
| | - Cécile Corfdir
- Univ Paris Est Creteil (UPEC), AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires « H. Mondor », DMU IMPACT, INSERM, IMRB, translational Neuropsychiatry, Fondation FondaMental F-94010 Creteil, France
| | - Baptiste Pignon
- Univ Paris Est Creteil (UPEC), AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires « H. Mondor », DMU IMPACT, INSERM, IMRB, translational Neuropsychiatry, Fondation FondaMental F-94010 Creteil, France
| | - Mohamed Lajnef
- Univ Paris Est Creteil (UPEC), AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires « H. Mondor », DMU IMPACT, INSERM, IMRB, translational Neuropsychiatry, Fondation FondaMental F-94010 Creteil, France
| | - Jean-Romain Richard
- Univ Paris Est Creteil (UPEC), AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires « H. Mondor », DMU IMPACT, INSERM, IMRB, translational Neuropsychiatry, Fondation FondaMental F-94010 Creteil, France
| | - Elisabeth Marcos
- INSERM U955, Département de Physiologie - Explorations fonctionnelles, Hôpital Henri Mondor, AP-HP, FHU SENEC, Créteil, 94000, France
| | - Antoine Pelissolo
- Univ Paris Est Creteil (UPEC), AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires « H. Mondor », DMU IMPACT, INSERM, IMRB, translational Neuropsychiatry, Fondation FondaMental F-94010 Creteil, France
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Univ Paris Est Creteil (UPEC), AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires « H. Mondor », DMU IMPACT, INSERM, IMRB, translational Neuropsychiatry, Fondation FondaMental F-94010 Creteil, France
| | - Serge Adnot
- INSERM U955, Département de Physiologie - Explorations fonctionnelles, Hôpital Henri Mondor, AP-HP, FHU SENEC, Créteil, 94000, France
| | - Stephane Jamain
- Univ Paris Est Creteil (UPEC), AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires « H. Mondor », DMU IMPACT, INSERM, IMRB, translational Neuropsychiatry, Fondation FondaMental F-94010 Creteil, France
| | - Andrei Szöke
- Univ Paris Est Creteil (UPEC), AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires « H. Mondor », DMU IMPACT, INSERM, IMRB, translational Neuropsychiatry, Fondation FondaMental F-94010 Creteil, France
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Koshiyama D, Miura K, Nemoto K, Okada N, Matsumoto J, Fukunaga M, Hashimoto R. Neuroimaging studies within Cognitive Genetics Collaborative Research Organization aiming to replicate and extend works of ENIGMA. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 43:182-193. [PMID: 32501580 PMCID: PMC8675417 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproducibility is one of the most important issues for generalizing the results of clinical research; however, low reproducibility in neuroimaging studies is well known. To overcome this problem, the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis (ENIGMA) consortium, an international neuroimaging consortium, established standard protocols for imaging analysis and employs either meta‐ and mega‐analyses of psychiatric disorders with large sample sizes. The Cognitive Genetics Collaborative Research Organization (COCORO) in Japan promotes neurobiological studies in psychiatry and has successfully replicated and extended works of ENIGMA especially for neuroimaging studies. For example, (a) the ENIGMA consortium showed subcortical regional volume alterations in patients with schizophrenia (n = 2,028) compared to controls (n = 2,540) across 15 cohorts using meta‐analysis. COCORO replicated the volumetric changes in patients with schizophrenia (n = 884) compared to controls (n = 1,680) using the ENIGMA imaging analysis protocol and mega‐analysis. Furthermore, a schizophrenia‐specific leftward asymmetry for the pallidum volume was demonstrated; and (b) the ENIGMA consortium identified white matter microstructural alterations in patients with schizophrenia (n = 1,963) compared to controls (n = 2,359) across 29 cohorts. Using the ENIGMA protocol, a study from COCORO showed similar results in patients with schizophrenia (n = 696) compared to controls (n = 1,506) from 12 sites using mega‐analysis. Moreover, the COCORO study found that schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (n = 211) and autism spectrum disorder (n = 126), but not major depressive disorder (n = 398), share similar white matter microstructural alterations, compared to controls. Further replication and harmonization of the ENIGMA consortium and COCORO will contribute to the generalization of their research findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Koshiyama
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Miura
- Department of Pathology of Mental Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Nemoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Naohiro Okada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junya Matsumoto
- Department of Pathology of Mental Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaki Fukunaga
- Division of Cerebral Integration, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ryota Hashimoto
- Department of Pathology of Mental Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
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Valiati FE, Hizo GH, Pinto JV, Kauer-Sant`Anna M. The Possible Role of Telomere Length and Chemokines in the Aging Process: A Transdiagnostic Review in Psychiatry. CURRENT PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH AND REVIEWS 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1573400515666190719155906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:Psychiatric disorders are common, reaching a worldwide prevalence of 29.2%. They are associated with a high risk of premature death and with accelerated aging in clinical, molecular and neuroimaging studies. Recently, there is strong evidence suggesting a possible role of telomere length and chemokines in aging processes in psychiatric disorders.Objective:We aimed to review the literature on telomere length and chemokines and its association with early aging in mental illnesses on a transdiagnostic approach.Results:The review highlights the association between psychiatric disorders and early aging. Several independent studies have reported shorter telomere length and dysregulations on levels of circulating chemokines in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders, suggesting a complex interaction between these markers in a transdiagnostic level. However, studies have investigated the inflammatory markers and telomere shortening separately and associated with a particular diagnosis, rather than as a transdiagnostic biological feature.Conclusion:There is consistent evidence supporting the relationship between accelerated aging, telomere length, and chemokines in mental disorders, but they have been studied individually. Thus, more research is needed to improve the knowledge of accelerated senescence and its biomarkers in psychiatry, not only individually in each diagnosis, but also based on a transdiagnostic perspective. Moreover, further research should try to elucidate how the intricate association between the chemokines and telomeres together may contribute to the aging process in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Endler Valiati
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Henrique Hizo
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jairo Vinícius Pinto
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Márcia Kauer-Sant`Anna
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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11
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No alteration in leukocyte telomere length in schizophrenia; evidence from a meta-analysis. Schizophr Res 2019; 208:447-448. [PMID: 30979667 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Okazaki S, Otsuka I, Numata S, Horai T, Mouri K, Boku S, Ohmori T, Sora I, Hishimoto A. Epigenetic clock analysis of blood samples from Japanese schizophrenia patients. NPJ SCHIZOPHRENIA 2019; 5:4. [PMID: 30814520 PMCID: PMC6393510 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-019-0072-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The accelerated aging hypothesis of schizophrenia (SCZ) has been proposed. DNA methylation profiles were developed for determining “epigenetic age.” Here, we assessed intrinsic and extrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA and EEAA, respectively) in SCZ. We examined two independent cohorts of Japanese ancestry. The first cohort consisted of 80 patients with SCZ under long-term or repeated hospitalization and 40 controls, with the economical DNA pooling technique. The second cohort consisted of 24 medication-free patients with SCZ and 23 controls. Blood of SCZ subjects exhibited decreased EEAA in the first cohort (p = 0.0162), but not in the second cohort. IEAA did not differ in either cohort. We performed replication analyses using publicly available datasets from European ancestry (three blood and one brain datasets). One blood dataset showed increased EEAA in SCZ (p = 0.0228). Overall, our results provide evidence for decreased EEAA in SCZ associated with hospitalization in the Japanese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Okazaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Ikuo Otsuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Shusuke Numata
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Tadasu Horai
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Kentaro Mouri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Biosignal Pathophysiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,Medical Center for Student's Health Service, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Shuken Boku
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Ohmori
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Ichiro Sora
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akitoyo Hishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
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Anitha A, Thanseem I, Vasu MM, Viswambharan V, Poovathinal SA. Telomeres in neurological disorders. Adv Clin Chem 2019; 90:81-132. [PMID: 31122612 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ever since their discovery, the telomeres and the telomerase have been topics of intensive research, first as a mechanism of cellular aging and later as an indicator of health and diseases in humans. By protecting the chromosome ends, the telomeres play a vital role in preserving the information in our genome. Telomeres shorten with age and the rate of telomere erosion provides insight into the proliferation history of cells. The pace of telomere attrition is known to increase at the onset of several pathological conditions. Telomere shortening has been emerging as a potential contributor in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and depression. The rate of telomere attrition in the brain is slower than that of other tissues owing to the low rate of cell proliferation in brain. Telomere maintenance is crucial for the functioning of stem cells in brain. Taking together the studies on telomere attrition in various neurological disorders, an association between telomere shortening and disease status has been demonstrated in schizophrenia, AD and depression, in spite of a few negative reports. But, studies in ASD and PD have failed to produce conclusive results. The cause-effect relationship between TL and neurological disorders is yet to be elucidated. The factors responsible for telomere erosion, which have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders, need to be explored in detail. Telomerase activation is now being considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayyappan Anitha
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India.
| | - Ismail Thanseem
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
| | - Mahesh Mundalil Vasu
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
| | - Vijitha Viswambharan
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
| | - Suresh A Poovathinal
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
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Shivakumar V, Kalmady SV, Rajasekaran A, Chhabra H, Anekal AC, Narayanaswamy JC, Ravi V, Gangadhar BN, Venkatasubramanian G. Telomere length and its association with hippocampal gray matter volume in antipsychotic-naïve/free schizophrenia patients. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2018; 282:11-17. [PMID: 30384145 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Accelerated ageing processes are postulated to underlie schizophrenia pathogenesis. This postulate is supported by observations of reduced telomere length in schizophrenia patients. Hippocampus, one of the most important brain regions implicated in schizophrenia, is shown to atrophy at a faster rate in aging. In this study, telomere length (TL) was measured in 30 antipsychotic-naive/free schizophrenia patients and 60 healthy controls using quantitative PCR assay. Hippocampus volume was measured using voxel-based morphometry. Schizophrenia was associated with differential TL between sexes [Status × Sex; F(1,85) = 5.9, p = 0.017, η2 = 0.065]. Male schizophrenia patients had significantly lower relative TL than female patients [F(1,85) = 7.38, p = 0.008], while such sex difference was not observed in healthy controls [F(1,85) = 0.16, p = 0.69]. Schizophrenia patients showed a significant sex-by-telomere interaction with both right & left hippocampus, with male patients showing positive association of telomere length with volume, while female patients showed negative association. Telomere shortening and the positive association of telomere length with hippocampus volume was observed only in male patients with schizophrenia. Since correlational observations in this cross-sectional study does not necessarily support definitive causal relationship, further longitudinal studies examining hippocampus volume and telomere in schizophrenia patients are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkataram Shivakumar
- The Schizophrenia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry & Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Sunil V Kalmady
- The Schizophrenia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry & Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Ashwini Rajasekaran
- The Schizophrenia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry & Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Harleen Chhabra
- The Schizophrenia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry & Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Amaresha C Anekal
- The Schizophrenia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry & Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Janardhanan C Narayanaswamy
- The Schizophrenia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry & Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Vasanthapuram Ravi
- The Schizophrenia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry & Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Bangalore N Gangadhar
- The Schizophrenia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry & Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Ganesan Venkatasubramanian
- The Schizophrenia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry & Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India.
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