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Wang Q, Xi L, Yang N, Song J, Taiwaikul D, Zhang X, Bo Y, Tang B, Zhou X. Association of leukocyte telomere length with risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in middle-aged and older individuals without cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study of NHANES 1999-2002. Aging Clin Exp Res 2024; 36:131. [PMID: 38869742 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-024-02773-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) shorting was significantly associated with mortality. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between LTL and all-cause mortality as well as cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in middle-aged or older individuals without a history of CVD. METHODS A total of 4174 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 1999 and 2002 were included in this analysis. Cox proportional hazards regression models were utilized to estimate the association between LTL and mortality outcomes. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were employed to evaluate the potential non-linear association. RESULTS Over a median follow-up period of 217 months, the weighted rates of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality were 28.58% and 8.32% respectively. Participants in the highest LTL group exhibited a significantly decreased risk of both all-cause mortality (HR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.54-0.78, P < 0.001) and CVD mortality (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.45-0.93, P < 0.001) compared to those in the lowest group. Kaplan-Meier survival curves further supported a significant association between shorter telomere length and increased risks of both all-cause and CVD mortality (log-rank test P < 0.001). RCS curves demonstrated a linear dose-response relationship between LTL and all-cause mortality as well as CVD mortality. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results. CONCLUSION Shorter leukocyte telomere length could serve as a potential biomarker for risk stratification of all-cause and CVD mortality among middle-aged and older individuals without a history of CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhui Wang
- Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 137, Liyushan Road, Urumqi, 830054, PR China
| | - Linqiang Xi
- Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 137, Liyushan Road, Urumqi, 830054, PR China
| | - Na Yang
- Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 137, Liyushan Road, Urumqi, 830054, PR China
| | - Jie Song
- Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 137, Liyushan Road, Urumqi, 830054, PR China
| | - Dilare Taiwaikul
- Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 137, Liyushan Road, Urumqi, 830054, PR China
| | - Xiaoxue Zhang
- Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 137, Liyushan Road, Urumqi, 830054, PR China
| | - Yakun Bo
- Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 137, Liyushan Road, Urumqi, 830054, PR China
| | - Baopeng Tang
- Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 137, Liyushan Road, Urumqi, 830054, PR China.
| | - Xianhui Zhou
- Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No. 137, Liyushan Road, Urumqi, 830054, PR China.
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2
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Jouabadi SM, Ataabadi EA, Golshiri K, Bos D, Stricker BHC, Danser AHJ, Mattace-Raso F, Roks AJM. Clinical Impact and Mechanisms of Nonatherosclerotic Vascular Aging: The New Kid to Be Blocked. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39:1839-1858. [PMID: 37495207 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2023.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ischemic cardiovascular disease and stroke remain the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. During aging, protective mechanisms in the body gradually deteriorate, resulting in functional, structural, and morphologic changes that affect the vascular system. Because atherosclerotic plaques are not always present along with these alterations, we refer to this kind of vascular aging as nonatherosclerotic vascular aging (NAVA). To maintain proper vascular function during NAVA, it is important to preserve intracellular signalling, prevent inflammation, and block the development of senescent cells. Pharmacologic interventions targeting these components are potential therapeutic approaches for NAVA, with a particular emphasis on inflammation and senescence. This review provides an overview of the pathophysiology of vascular aging and explores potential pharmacotherapies that can improve the function of aged vasculature, focusing on NAVA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush Mohammadi Jouabadi
- Division of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ehsan Ataei Ataabadi
- Division of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Keivan Golshiri
- Division of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Bos
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bruno H C Stricker
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A H Jan Danser
- Division of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Francesco Mattace-Raso
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anton J M Roks
- Division of Vascular Medicine and Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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3
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Posttransplant Complications and Genetic Loci Involved in Telomere Maintenance in Heart Transplant Patients. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13101855. [PMID: 36292740 PMCID: PMC9601297 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Reaching critically short telomeres induces cellular senescence and ultimately cell death. Cellular senescence contributes to the loss of tissue function. We aimed to determine the association between variants within genes involved in telomere length maintenance, posttransplant events, and aortic telomere length in heart transplant patients. DNA was isolated from paired aortic samples of 383 heart recipients (age 50.7 ± 11.9 years) and corresponding donors (age 38.7 ± 12.0 years). Variants within the TERC (rs12696304), TERF2IP (rs3784929 and rs8053257), and OBCF1 (rs4387287) genes were genotyped, and telomere length was measured using qPCR. We identified similar frequencies of genotypes in heart donors and recipients. Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) was more common (p < 0.05) in carriers of at least one G allele within the TERF2IP locus (rs3784929). Chronic graft dysfunction (CGD) was associated with the TERC (rs12696304) GG donor genotype (p = 0.05). The genetic risk score did not determine posttransplant complication risk prediction. No associations between the analyzed polymorphisms and telomere length were detected in either donor or recipient DNA. In conclusion, possible associations between donor TERF2IP (rs3784929) and AMR and between TERC (rs12696304) and CGD were found. SNPs within the examined genes were not associated with telomere length in transplanted patients.
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4
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Pietri P, Stefanadis C. Cardiovascular Aging and Longevity: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol 2021; 77:189-204. [PMID: 33446313 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular aging and longevity are interrelated through many pathophysiological mechanisms. Many factors that promote atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are also implicated in the aging process and vice versa. Indeed, cardiometabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension share common pathophysiological mechanisms with aging and longevity. Moreover, genetic modulators of longevity have a significant impact on cardiovascular aging. The current knowledge of genetic, molecular, and biochemical pathways of aging may serve as a substrate to introduce interventions that might delay cardiovascular aging, thus approaching the goal of longevity. In the present review, the authors describe pathophysiological links between cardiovascular aging and longevity and translate these mechanisms into clinical data by reporting genetic, dietary, and environmental characteristics from long-living populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Pietri
- Athens Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Research Institute for Longevity and Aging-related diseases, Athens, Greece
| | - Christodoulos Stefanadis
- Athens Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Research Institute for Longevity and Aging-related diseases, Athens, Greece.
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5
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Xu T, Cheng D, Zhao Y, Zhang J, Zhu X, Zhang F, Chen G, Wang Y, Yan X, Robertson GP, Gaddameedhi S, Lazarus P, Wang S, Zhu J. Polymorphic tandem DNA repeats activate the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2019043118. [PMID: 34155099 PMCID: PMC8256013 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019043118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple independent sequence variants of the hTERT locus have been associated with telomere length and cancer risks in genome-wide association studies. Here, we identified an intronic variable number tandem repeat, VNTR2-1, as an enhancer-like element, which activated hTERT transcription in a cell in a chromatin-dependent manner. VNTR2-1, consisting of 42-bp repeats with an array of enhancer boxes, cooperated with the proximal promoter in the regulation of hTERT transcription by basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors and maintained hTERT expression during embryonic stem-cell differentiation. Genomic deletion of VNTR2-1 in MelJuSo melanoma cells markedly reduced hTERT transcription, leading to telomere shortening, cellular senescence, and impairment of xenograft tumor growth. Interestingly, VNTR2-1 lengths varied widely in human populations; hTERT alleles with shorter VNTR2-1 were underrepresented in African American centenarians, indicating its role in human aging. Therefore, this polymorphic element is likely a missing link in the telomerase regulatory network and a molecular basis for genetic diversities of telomere homeostasis and age-related disease susceptibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xu
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - De Cheng
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210
| | - Yuanjun Zhao
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Jinglong Zhang
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210
| | - Xiaolu Zhu
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210
| | - Fan Zhang
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210
| | - Gang Chen
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210
| | - Yang Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Xiufeng Yan
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Gavin P Robertson
- Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
- Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
- Department of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
- Department of Surgery, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Shobhan Gaddameedhi
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606
| | - Philip Lazarus
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210
| | - Shuwen Wang
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210
| | - Jiyue Zhu
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210;
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Lyu X, Sang PB, Chai W. CST in maintaining genome stability: Beyond telomeres. DNA Repair (Amst) 2021; 102:103104. [PMID: 33780718 PMCID: PMC8081025 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2021.103104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The human CST (CTC1-STN1-TEN1) complex is an RPA-like single-stranded DNA binding protein complex. While its telomeric functions have been well investigated, numerous studies have revealed that hCST also plays important roles in maintaining genome stability beyond telomeres. Here, we review and discuss recent discoveries on CST in various global genome maintenance pathways, including findings on the CST supercomplex structure, its functions in unperturbed DNA replication, stalled replication, double-strand break repair, and the ATR-CHK1 activation pathway. By summarizing these recent discoveries, we hope to offer new insights into genome maintenance mechanisms and the pathogenesis of CST mutation-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxing Lyu
- Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250062, China; Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, 60153, United States
| | - Pau Biak Sang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, 60153, United States
| | - Weihang Chai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, 60153, United States.
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Martynowicz H, Gać P, Kornafel-Flak O, Filipów S, Łaczmański Ł, Sobieszczańska M, Mazur G, Porȩba R. The Relationship Between the Effectiveness of Blood Pressure Control and Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Concentration, Adipose Tissue Hormone Concentration and Endothelium Function in Hypertensives. Heart Lung Circ 2020; 29:e200-e209. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2019.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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8
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The association of mean telomere length with all-cause, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular mortality. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:220736. [PMID: 31647542 PMCID: PMC6822529 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20192306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Mean telomere length (MLT) is a marker of cell aging and may associate with age-related diseases. However, the relationship between MLT and mortality risk remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between MLT and all-cause, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular mortality among adults in United States. We analyzed data were from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999–2002) with follow-up data through 31 December 2015. Based on MLT, participants were categorized into low, middle and high groups. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, subgroup analysis and generalized additive model (GAM) were performed by using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 7827 participants were included in analysis (48.18% male). After 158.26 months of follow-up on average, there were 1876 (23.97%), 87 (1.11%) and 243 (3.10%) onset of all-cause, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular mortality. After adjustment for potential confounders, using the low group as the reference, HRs for all-cause (0.87 and 0.86), cerebrovascular (0.75 and 0.75) and cardiovascular mortality (1.01 and 0.69) for the middle to high groups were not statistically significant (all P>0.05 for trend). MLT was non-linearly related to all-cause mortality but not to cerebrovascular and cardiovascular mortality. It was the first study to demonstrate the non-linear relationship between MLT and all-cause mortality.
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9
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Abstract
Telomeres, the protective ends of linear chromosomes, shorten throughout an individual's lifetime. Accumulation of critically short telomeres is proposed to be a primary molecular cause of aging and age-associated diseases. Mutations in telomere maintenance genes are associated with pathologies referred to as or telomeropathies. The rate of telomere shortening throughout life is determined by endogenous (genetic) and external (nongenetic) factors. Therapeutic strategies based on telomerase activation are being developed to treat and prevent telomere-associated diseases, namely aging-related diseases and telomeropathies. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms underlying telomere driven diseases with particular emphasis on cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Martínez
- From the Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria A Blasco
- From the Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
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10
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Lane-Cordova AD, Puterman E, Gunderson EP, Chan C, Hou L, Carnethon M. Gravidity is not associated with telomere length in a biracial cohort of middle-aged women: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186495. [PMID: 29049398 PMCID: PMC5648190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Having experienced 2-3 births is associated with reduced mortality versus women with <2 or ≥4 births. The effect of 2-3 births on lifespan may be associated with delayed cellular aging. We hypothesized telomere length, a marker of cellular aging, would be longer in women who had 2-3 pregnancies. METHODS Leukocyte telomere length was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in 620 women in CARDIA at the year 15 and 20 exams, expressed as the ratio of telomere repeat copy number to single-copy gene copy number (T/S). Number of pregnancies at the time of telomere length measurement was obtained (mean age = 41±0.1 years, average gravidity = 2.64±0.1 pregnancies). Participants were divided into 4 groups by number of pregnancies: 0, 1, 2-3, and ≥4, to test for differences in telomere length by gravidity group. RESULTS The mean and SD for telomere length was 0.98 ± 0.20 T/S in the whole cohort. There were no differences in mean telomere length between groups; 0.98±0.02 T/S in women with 0 pregnancies, 1.01±0.02 T/S in women with 1 pregnancy, 0.97±0.01 T/S in women with 2-3 pregnancies, and 0.99±0.02 T/S in women with ≥4 pregnancies (p = 0.51). We defined high-risk (shorter) telomere length as ≤25th percentile, and low-risk (longer) telomere length as ≥75 percentile. There were no differences in the prevalence of high-risk or low-risk telomere length between gravidity groups. CONCLUSIONS Gravidity was not associated with telomere length in early middle age; the protective association of 2-3 births may act through other mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbi D. Lane-Cordova
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Eli Puterman
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Erica P. Gunderson
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, United States of America
| | - Cheeling Chan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Lifang Hou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mercedes Carnethon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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Helby J, Nordestgaard BG, Benfield T, Bojesen SE. Shorter leukocyte telomere length is associated with higher risk of infections: a prospective study of 75,309 individuals from the general population. Haematologica 2017; 102:1457-1465. [PMID: 28522577 PMCID: PMC5541879 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2016.161943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In the general population, older age is associated with short leukocyte telomere length and with high risk of infections. In a recent study of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for severe aplastic anemia, long donor leukocyte telomere length was associated with improved survival in the recipients. These findings suggest that leukocyte telomere length could possibly be a marker of immune competence. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that shorter leukocyte telomere length is associated with higher risk of infectious disease hospitalization and infection-related death. Relative peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 75,309 individuals from the general population and the individuals were followed for up to 23 years. During follow up, 9228 individuals were hospitalized with infections and infection-related death occurred in 1508 individuals. Shorter telomere length was associated with higher risk of any infection (hazard ratio 1.05 per standard deviation shorter leukocyte telomere length; 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.07) and pneumonia (1.07; 1.03–1.10) after adjustment for conventional infectious disease risk factors. Corresponding hazard ratios for infection-related death were 1.10 (1.04–1.16) for any infection and 1.11 (1.04–1.19) for pneumonia. Telomere length was not associated with risk of skin infection, urinary tract infection, sepsis, diarrheal disease, endocarditis, meningitis or other infections. In conclusion, our findings indicate that leukocyte telomere length may be a marker of immune competence. Further studies are needed to determine whether risk of infections in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients can be reduced by considering donor leukocyte telomere length when selecting donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Helby
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.,The Copenhagen General Population Study, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Børge G Nordestgaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.,The Copenhagen General Population Study, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.,The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Thomas Benfield
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Stig E Bojesen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark .,The Copenhagen General Population Study, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.,The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
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12
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Leukocyte telomere length is linked to vascular risk factors not to Alzheimer's disease in the VITA study. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017; 124:809-819. [PMID: 28393276 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-017-1721-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Association of telomere shortening with overall dementia or Alzheimer's disease is described controversially and the pathophysiologic relevance is unclear. Whether patients, suffering from pure probable Alzheimer's disease or pure vascular dementia, have shorter leukocyte telomeres than cognitively healthy controls was determined. Leukocyte telomere lengths (LTLs) of 597 participants of the VITA study (longitudinal community-based age-cohort [mean 75.7 (±0.45) years] study: 243 male; 578 non-demented at baseline) were compared with different aspects of cognition, risk factors of dementia and survival. LTLs of 264 persons cognitively healthy at baseline (mild cognitive impaired excluded) and all follow-ups (mean = 5643 bp, SD = 736) did not show any difference to LTLs of 43 incident pure possible (mean = 5548 bp; SD = 666) or 34 incident pure probable Alzheimer's diseases (mean = 5712 bp; SD = 695; post hoc Dunnett test: MD = -95; SE = 119; p = 0.67 and MD =+68.3; SE = 132; p = 0.84, res.). 264 stably cognitively healthy showed a trend to longer telomeres than 6 incident vascular dementias (mean = 5643 bp, SD = 736 vs mean = 5101 bp, SD = 510; t test: T = 1.8; df = 268; p = 0.07). Males (n = 243; mean = 5470 bp; SD = 684) had significantly shorter telomeres than females (n = 354; mean = 5686 bp; SD = 714; t test: T = -3.7; df = 595; p = 0.0001) and died significantly earlier (113.7 vs 130.1 months: Log Rank Chi square = 12.2; p = 0.0001). Shorter telomeres were associated with prevalence of more than one vascular risk factor (n = 587; mean = 5728; SD = 723 vs mean = 5533; SD = 691; t test: T = 3.1; df = 576; p = 0.002) and, as a trend, with poorer survival (Cox Regression: Wald = 4.9; p = 0.026; OR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.96-0.99). In 75.7 years old persons, no association of LTL with incident pure Alzheimer's disease was found. Significantly shorter telomeres were associated with sum of vascular risk factors, males and early mortality in males. Exclusion of mixed dementias may improve the search for risk factors more specific for Alzheimer's disease.
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Abstract
Telomeres are tandem repeat DNA sequences present at the ends of each eukaryotic chromosome to stabilize the genome structure integrity. Telomere lengths progressively shorten with each cell division. Inflammation and oxidative stress, which are implicated as major mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases, increase the rate of telomere shortening and lead to cellular senescence. In clinical studies, cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and hypertension have been associated with short leukocyte telomere length. In addition, low telomerase activity and short leukocyte telomere length have been observed in atherosclerotic plaque and associated with plaque instability, thus stroke or acute myocardial infarction. The aging myocardium with telomere shortening and accumulation of senescent cells limits the tissue regenerative capacity, contributing to systolic or diastolic heart failure. In addition, patients with ion-channel defects might have genetic imbalance caused by oxidative stress-related accelerated telomere shortening, which may subsequently cause sudden cardiac death. Telomere length can serve as a marker for the biological status of previous cell divisions and DNA damage with inflammation and oxidative stress. It can be integrated into current risk prediction and stratification models for cardiovascular diseases and can be used in precise personalized treatments. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of telomeres and telomerase in the aging process and their association with cardiovascular diseases. In addition, we discuss therapeutic interventions targeting the telomere system in cardiovascular disease treatments.
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Yeh JK, Wang CY. Telomeres and Telomerase in Cardiovascular Diseases. Genes (Basel) 2016; 7:genes7090058. [PMID: 27598203 PMCID: PMC5042389 DOI: 10.3390/genes7090058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are tandem repeat DNA sequences present at the ends of each eukaryotic chromosome to stabilize the genome structure integrity. Telomere lengths progressively shorten with each cell division. Inflammation and oxidative stress, which are implicated as major mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases, increase the rate of telomere shortening and lead to cellular senescence. In clinical studies, cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and hypertension have been associated with short leukocyte telomere length. In addition, low telomerase activity and short leukocyte telomere length have been observed in atherosclerotic plaque and associated with plaque instability, thus stroke or acute myocardial infarction. The aging myocardium with telomere shortening and accumulation of senescent cells limits the tissue regenerative capacity, contributing to systolic or diastolic heart failure. In addition, patients with ion-channel defects might have genetic imbalance caused by oxidative stress-related accelerated telomere shortening, which may subsequently cause sudden cardiac death. Telomere length can serve as a marker for the biological status of previous cell divisions and DNA damage with inflammation and oxidative stress. It can be integrated into current risk prediction and stratification models for cardiovascular diseases and can be used in precise personalized treatments. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of telomeres and telomerase in the aging process and their association with cardiovascular diseases. In addition, we discuss therapeutic interventions targeting the telomere system in cardiovascular disease treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jih-Kai Yeh
- Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 33305 Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Chao-Yung Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 33305 Taoyuan, Taiwan.
- Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 33302 Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Soares-Miranda L, Imamura F, Siscovick D, Jenny NS, Fitzpatrick AL, Mozaffarian D. Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Leukocyte Telomere Length: The Cardiovascular Health Study. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2016; 47:2525-34. [PMID: 26083773 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000000720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The influence of physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) at older ages on changes in telomere length (TL)--repetitive DNA sequences that may mark biologic aging--is not well-established. Few prior studies (mainly cross-sectional) have been conducted in older adults, and few studies have evaluated PF. METHODS We investigated cross-sectional and prospective associations of PA and PF with leukocyte TL among 582 older adults (mean ± SD age, 73 ± 5 yr at baseline) in the Cardiovascular Health Study, with serial TL measures and PA and PF assessed multiple times. Cross-sectional associations were assessed using multivariable repeated-measures regression, in which cumulatively averaged PA and PF measures were related to TL. Longitudinal analyses assessed cumulatively averaged PA and PF against later changes in TL, and changes in cumulatively averaged PA and PF against changes in TL. RESULTS Cross-sectionally, greater walking distance and chair test performance, but not other PA and PF measures, were each associated with longer TL (P trend = 0.007 and 0.04, respectively). In longitudinal analyses, no significant associations of baseline PA and PF with change in TL were observed. In contrast, changes in leisure-time activity and chair test performance were each inversely associated with changes in TL. CONCLUSIONS Cross-sectional analyses suggest that greater PA and PF are associated with longer TL. Prospective analyses show that changes in PA and PF are associated with differences in changes in TL. Even later in life, changes in certain PA and PF measures are associated with changes in TL, suggesting that leisure-time activity and fitness could reduce leukocyte telomere attrition among older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Soares-Miranda
- 1Research Center in Physical Activity Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, PORTUGAL; 2MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UNITED KINGDOM; 3New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY; 4Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; 5Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT; and 6Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA
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Loprinzi PD, Sng E. Mode-specific physical activity and leukocyte telomere length among U.S. adults: Implications of running on cellular aging. Prev Med 2016; 85:17-19. [PMID: 26794045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Revised: 12/26/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research demonstrates that physical activity participation is associated with longer leukocyte telomere length, with shorter leukocyte telomere length being a hallmark characteristic of cellular aging. What remains under-investigated, however, is whether there is a mode-specific association of physical activity on leukocyte telomere length, which was this study's purpose. METHODS Data from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used (N=6474 adults analyzed). Leukocyte telomere length was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Physical activity was assessed via self-report, with participants classified as meeting physical activity guidelines (≥2000 metabolic equivalent of task-min-month) for 9 separate physical activities, including aerobics (unweighted percent meeting guidelines: 2.98%; n=193), basketball (2.0%; n=129), bicycling (3.71%; n=240), dance (2.30%; n=149), running (3.09%; n=200), stair climbing (1.33%, n=86), swimming (1.85%, n=120), walking (13.53%; n=876), and weight lifting (2.61%; n=169). RESULTS In a single multivariable linear regression model including the independent variables of age, gender, race-ethnicity, weight status, total cholesterol, C-reactive protein, total metabolic equivalent of task-min-month of physical activity and the 9 binary meeting physical activity guideline variables, the only mode of physical activity that was significantly associated with leukocyte telomere length was meeting physical activity guidelines from running (β=0.06; 95% CI: 0.01-0.11; P=0.03). CONCLUSION Running-specific physical activity was the only evaluated physical activity associated with leukocyte telomere length, which may provide one potential mechanism (i.e., leukocyte telomere length) through which running-based physical activity may help to prevent cardiovascular disease and premature mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Loprinzi
- Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.
| | - Eveleen Sng
- Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
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17
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18
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Bressler J, Franceschini N, Demerath EW, Mosley TH, Folsom AR, Boerwinkle E. Sequence variation in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) as a determinant of risk of cardiovascular disease: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2015. [PMID: 26201603 PMCID: PMC4557920 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-015-0194-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) maintains telomere ends during DNA replication by catalyzing the addition of short telomere repeats. The expression of telomerase is normally repressed in somatic cells leading to a gradual shortening of telomeres and cellular senescence with aging. Interindividual variation in leukocyte telomere length has been previously associated with susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to determine whether six variants in the TERT gene are associated with risk of incident coronary heart disease, incident ischemic stroke, and mortality in participants in the biracial population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, including rs2736100 that was found to influence mean telomere length in a genome-wide analysis. Methods ARIC is a prospective study of the etiology and natural history of atherosclerosis in 15,792 individuals aged 45 to 64 years at baseline in 1987–1989. Haplotype tagging SNPs in TERT were genotyped using a custom array containing nearly 49,000 SNPs in 2,100 genes associated with cardiovascular and metabolic phenotypes. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between the TERT polymorphisms and incident cardiovascular disease and mortality over a 20-year follow-up period in 8,907 whites and 3,022 African-Americans with no history of disease at the baseline examination, while individuals with prevalent cardiovascular disease were not excluded from the analyses of mortality. Results After adjustment for age and gender, and assuming an additive genetic model, rs2736122 and rs2853668 were nominally associated with incident coronary heart disease (hazards rate ratio = 1.20, p = 0.02, 95 % confidence interval = 1.03– 1.40) and stroke (hazards rate ratio = 1.17, p = 0.05, 95 % confidence interval = 1.00 - 1.38), respectively, in African-Americans. None of the variants was significantly associated with cardiovascular disease in white study participants or with mortality in either racial group. Conclusions Replication in additional population-based samples combined with genotyping of polymorphisms in other genes involved in maintenance of telomere length may help to determine whether genetic variants associated with telomere homeostasis influence the risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Bressler
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Nora Franceschini
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Ellen W Demerath
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 1300 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.
| | - Thomas H Mosley
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA.
| | - Aaron R Folsom
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 1300 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Boccardi V, Razdan N, Kaplunov J, Mundra JJ, Kimura M, Aviv A, Herbig U. Stn1 is critical for telomere maintenance and long-term viability of somatic human cells. Aging Cell 2015; 14:372-81. [PMID: 25684230 PMCID: PMC4406666 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of telomere maintenance pathways leads to accelerated entry into cellular senescence, a stable proliferative arrest that promotes aging-associated disorders in some mammals. The budding yeast CST complex, comprising Cdc13, Stn1, and Ctc1, is critical for telomere replication, length regulation, and end protection. Although mammalian homologues of CST have been identified recently, their role and function for telomere maintenance in normal somatic human cells are still incompletely understood. Here, we characterize the function of human Stn1 in cultured human fibroblasts and demonstrate its critical role in telomere replication, length regulation, and function. In the absence of high telomerase activity, shRNA-mediated knockdown of hStn1 resulted in aberrant and fragile telomeric structures, stochastic telomere attrition, increased telomere erosion rates, telomere dysfunction, and consequently accelerated entry into cellular senescence. Oxidative stress augmented the defects caused by Stn1 knockdown leading to almost immediate cessation of cell proliferation. In contrast, overexpression of hTERT suppressed some of the defects caused by hStn1 knockdown suggesting that telomerase can partially compensate for hStn1 loss. Our findings reveal a critical role for human Stn1 in telomere length maintenance and function, supporting the model that efficient replication of telomeric repeats is critical for long-term viability of normal somatic mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Boccardi
- Department of Geriatric Medicine and Metabolic Diseases Second University of Naples Naples Italy
| | - Neetu Razdan
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Newark NJ USA
| | - Jessica Kaplunov
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Newark NJ USA
| | - Jyoti J. Mundra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Newark NJ USA
| | - Masayuki Kimura
- Center of Human Development and Aging Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Newark NJ USA
| | - Abraham Aviv
- Center of Human Development and Aging Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Newark NJ USA
| | - Utz Herbig
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Newark NJ USA
- New Jersey Medical School‐Cancer Center Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Newark NJ USA
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Telomere length in the two extremes of abnormal fetal growth and the programming effect of maternal arterial hypertension. Sci Rep 2015; 5:7869. [PMID: 25598199 PMCID: PMC5379006 DOI: 10.1038/srep07869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with birth weight in both extremes of abnormal fetal growth: small (SGA) and large for gestational age newborns (LGA). Clinical and laboratory variables of the mothers and the neonates were explored; 45 newborns with appropriate weight for gestational age (AGA), 12 SGA and 12 LGA were included. Whether the differences might be explained by variation in OBFC1 (rs9419958) and CTC1 (rs3027234) genes associated with LTL was determined. A significant association between birth weight and LTL was observed; LTL was significantly shorter in LGA newborns (1.01 ± 0.12) compared with SGA (1.73 ± 0.19) p < 0.005, mean ± SE. Maternal (Spearman R = −0.6, p = 0.03) and neonatal LTL (R = −0.25, p = 0.03) were significantly and inversely correlated with maternal history of arterial hypertension in previous gestations. Neonatal LTL was not significantly associated with either rs9419950 or rs3027234, suggesting that the association between neonatal LTL and birth weight is not influenced by genetic variation in genes that modify the interindividual LTL. In conclusion, telomere biology seems to be modulated by abnormal fetal growth; modifications in telomere length might be programmed by an adverse environment in utero.
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Kalpouzos G, Rizzuto D, Keller L, Fastbom J, Santoni G, Angleman S, Graff C, Bäckman L, Fratiglioni L. Telomerase Gene (hTERT) and Survival: Results From Two Swedish Cohorts of Older Adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2014; 71:188-95. [PMID: 25452402 PMCID: PMC4707686 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glu222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere length has been associated with longevity. As telomere length is partly determined by the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), we investigated the association between an hTERT polymorphism located in its promoter region (−1327T/C) and longevity in two cohorts of older adults. Participants from the Kungsholmen project (KP; n = 1,205) and the Swedish National study of Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K; n = 2,764) were followed for an average period of 7.5 years. The main outcomes were hazard ratios (HR) of mortality and median age at death. In both cohorts, mortality was lower in female T/T carriers, aged 75+ years in KP (HR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.5–0.9) and 78+ years in SNAC-K (HR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4–0.8) compared with female C/C carriers. T/T carriers died 1.8–3 years later than the C/C carriers. This effect was not present in men, neither in SNAC-K women aged 60–72 years. The association was not modified by presence of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, number of chronic diseases, or markers of inflammation, and did not interact with APOE genotype or estrogen replacement therapy. The gender-specific increased survival in T/T carriers can be due to a synergistic effect between genetic background and the life-long exposure to endogenous estrogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoria Kalpouzos
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Debora Rizzuto
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lina Keller
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. Division of Neurogeriatrics, NVS, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Fastbom
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giola Santoni
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sara Angleman
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline Graff
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, NVS, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Alzheimer Research at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Bäckman
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laura Fratiglioni
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden
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Leukocyte telomere length is not associated with mortality in older men. Exp Gerontol 2014; 57:6-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Masi S, D'Aiuto F, Martin-Ruiz C, Kahn T, Wong A, Ghosh AK, Whincup P, Kuh D, Hughes A, von Zglinicki T, Hardy R, Deanfield JE. Rate of telomere shortening and cardiovascular damage: a longitudinal study in the 1946 British Birth Cohort. Eur Heart J 2014; 35:3296-303. [PMID: 24957070 PMCID: PMC4258223 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehu226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Cross-sectional studies reported associations between short leucocyte telomere length (LTL) and measures of vascular and cardiac damage. However, the contribution of LTL dynamics to the age-related process of cardiovascular (CV) remodelling remains unknown. In this study, we explored whether the rate of LTL shortening can predict CV phenotypes over 10-year follow-up and the influence of established CV risk factors on this relationship. Methods and results All the participants from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) with measures of LTL and traditional CV risk factors at 53 and 60–64 years and common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), cardiac mass and left ventricular function at 60–64 years were included. LTL was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and available at both time points in 1033 individuals. While LTL at 53 years was not linked with any CV phenotype at 60–64 years, a negative association was found between LTL and cIMT at 60–64 years (β = −0.017, P = 0.015). However, the strongest association was found between rate of telomere shortening between 53 and 60–64 years and values of cIMT at 60–64 years (β = −0.020, P = 0.006). This association was not affected by adjustment for traditional CV risk factors. Cardiac measurements were not associated with cross-sectional or longitudinal measures of LTL. Conclusion These findings suggest that the rate of progression of cellular ageing in late midlife (reflected by the rate of LTL attrition) relates to vascular damage, independently from contribution of CV risk factor exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Masi
- Vascular Physiology Unit, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK King's College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Francesco D'Aiuto
- Periodontology Unit, Eastman Dental Institute, University College of London, London, UK
| | - Carmen Martin-Ruiz
- Institute of Aging and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Tauseef Kahn
- Vascular Physiology Unit, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Wong
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
| | - Arjun K Ghosh
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
| | - Peter Whincup
- Division of Population Health Sciences and Education, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Diana Kuh
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alan Hughes
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College Academic Health Sciences Centre, London, UK
| | | | - Rebecca Hardy
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
| | - John Eric Deanfield
- Vascular Physiology Unit, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK National Centre for Cardiovascular Prevention and Outcomes, University College London, 170 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7HA London, UK
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Telomeres in molecular epidemiology studies. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2014; 125:113-31. [PMID: 24993700 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-397898-1.00005-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are long nucleotide repeats and protein complexes at the ends of chromosomes that are essential for maintaining chromosomal stability. They shorten with each cell division, and therefore, telomere length is a marker for cellular aging and senescence. Epidemiological research of telomeres investigates the role that these genetic structures have in disease risk and mortality in human populations. This chapter provides an overview of the current telomere epidemiology research and discusses approaches taken in these investigations. We also highlight important methodological considerations that may affect data interpretation.
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Nilsson PM, Tufvesson H, Leosdottir M, Melander O. Telomeres and cardiovascular disease risk: an update 2013. Transl Res 2013; 162:371-80. [PMID: 23748031 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2013] [Revised: 05/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) has been regarded as a potential marker of biologic aging because it usually shortens in a predictable way with age. Recently, a growing interest in cardiovascular aging has led to a number of new epidemiologic studies investigating LTL in various disease conditions. Some methodological problems exist because there are different methods available to determine LTL, and standardization is much needed. For example, in the majority of studies, patients with early-onset coronary heart disease have been shown to have shorter LTL. In addition, patients with diabetes mellitus complications tend to have shorter LTL than control subjects. On the other hand, increased left ventricular hypertrophy or mass is associated with longer LTL, and studies investigating hypertension have reported both shorter and longer LTL than found in normotensive control subjects. There is, therefore, a need for longitudinal studies to elucidate these complicated relationships further, to provide estimations of telomere attrition rates, and to overcome analytical problems when only cross-sectional studies are used. The understanding of cardiovascular aging and telomere biology may open up new avenues for interventions, such as stem cell therapy or agents that could retard this aging process over and beyond conventional risk factor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Nilsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
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Edwards TL, Michels KA, Hartmann KE, Edwards DRV. BET1L and TNRC6B associate with uterine fibroid risk among European Americans. Hum Genet 2013; 132:943-53. [PMID: 23604678 PMCID: PMC3715562 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-013-1306-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Uterine fibroid (UFs) affect 77 % of women by menopause and account for $9.4 billion in healthcare costs each year. Although UFs are heritable, genetic risk is poorly understood. The first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of UFs was recently performed in a Japanese population, with reported genome-wide significance for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across three chromosomal regions. We tested these SNPs for association with UFs in US cohorts. Women were enrolled in the Right from the Start (RFTS) cohort and the BioVU DNA repository. UF status in both cohorts was determined by pelvic imaging. We tested 65 candidate and haplotype-tagging SNPs for association with UFs presence using logistic regression in RFTS and the top three GWAS-associated SNPs in BioVU. We also combined association results from both cohorts using meta-analysis. 1,086 European American (EA) cases and 1,549 controls were examined. Two SNP associations replicated [blocked early in transport 1 homolog (BET1L) rs2280543, RFTS-BioVU meta-odds ratio (OR) = 0.67 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.38-0.96, Q = 0.70, I = 0, p = 6.9 × 10⁻³; trinucleotide repeat containing 6B (TNRC6B) rs12484776, RFTS-BioVU meta-OR = 1.21, 95 % CI 1.07-1.35, Q = 0.24, I = 28.37, p = 8.7 × 10⁻³). Meta-analyses combining evidence from RFTS, BioVU, and prior GWAS showed little heterogeneity in effect sizes across studies, with meta-p values between 7.45 × 10⁻⁸ and 3.89 × 10⁻⁹, which were stronger than prior GWAS and supported associations observed for all previously identified loci. These data suggest common variants increase risk for UF in both EA and Japanese populations. However, further research is needed to assess the role of these genes across other racial groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd L. Edwards
- Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Center for Human Genetics Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Kara A. Michels
- Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Katherine E. Hartmann
- Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Center for Human Genetics Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Digna R. Velez Edwards
- Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Center for Human Genetics Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
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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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