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Ahlers NE, Lin J, Weiss SJ. WITHDRAWN: Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter during Pregnancy: Implications for Infant Telomere Length. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.09.17.23295692. [PMID: 37790308 PMCID: PMC10543047 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.17.23295692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
This manuscript has been withdrawn by the authors as it was submitted and made public without the full consent of all the authors. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author. The authors have an approved version for citation that is peer reviewed. Ahlers, N.E.; Lin, J.; Weiss, S.J. Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter during Pregnancy: Implications for Infant Telomere Length. Air 2024, 2, 24-37. https://doi.org/10.3390/air2010002.
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Lis N, Lamnisos D, Bograkou-Tzanetakou A, Hadjimbei E, Tzanetakou IP. Preterm Birth and Its Association with Maternal Diet, and Placental and Neonatal Telomere Length. Nutrients 2023; 15:4975. [PMID: 38068836 PMCID: PMC10708229 DOI: 10.3390/nu15234975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB), a multi-causal syndrome, is one of the global epidemics. Maternal nutrition, but also neonatal and placental telomere length (TL), are among the factors affecting PTB risk. However, the exact relationship between these factors and the PTB outcome, remains obscure. The aim of this review was to investigate the association between PTB, maternal nutrition, and placental-infant TL. Observational studies were sought with the keywords: maternal nutrition, placental TL, newborn, TL, and PTB. No studies were found that included all of the keywords simultaneously, and thus, the keywords were searched in dyads, to reach assumptive conclusions. The findings show that maternal nutrition affects PTB risk, through its influence on maternal TL. On the other hand, maternal TL independently affects PTB risk, and at the same time PTB is a major determinant of offspring TL regulation. The strength of the associations, and the extent of the influence from covariates, remains to be elucidated in future research. Furthermore, the question of whether maternal TL is simply a biomarker of maternal nutritional status and PTB risk, or a causative factor of PTB, to date, remains to be answered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Lis
- Department of Health Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus; (N.L.); (D.L.)
- Maternity Clinic, Cork University Maternity Hospital, T12 YE02 Cork, Ireland
| | - Demetris Lamnisos
- Department of Health Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus; (N.L.); (D.L.)
| | | | - Elena Hadjimbei
- Department of Life Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus;
| | - Irene P. Tzanetakou
- Department of Life Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus;
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Salmón P, Burraco P. Telomeres and anthropogenic disturbances in wildlife: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6018-6039. [PMID: 35080073 PMCID: PMC9790527 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Human-driven environmental changes are affecting wildlife across the globe. These challenges do not influence species or populations to the same extent and therefore a comprehensive evaluation of organismal health is needed to determine their ultimate impact. Evidence suggests that telomeres (the terminal chromosomal regions) are sensitive to environmental conditions and have been posited as a surrogate for animal health and fitness. Evaluation of their use in an applied ecological context is still scarce. Here, using information from molecular and occupational biomedical studies, we aim to provide ecologists and evolutionary biologists with an accessible synthesis of the links between human disturbances and telomere length. In addition, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on studies measuring telomere length in wild/wild-derived animals facing anthropogenic disturbances. Despite the relatively small number of studies to date, our meta-analysis revealed a significant small negative association between disturbances and telomere length (-0.092 [-0.153, -0.031]; n = 28; k = 159). Yet, our systematic review suggests that the use of telomeres as a biomarker to understand the anthropogenic impact on wildlife is limited. We propose some research avenues that will help to broadly evaluate their suitability: (i) further causal studies on the link between human disturbances and telomeres; (ii) investigating the organismal implications, in terms of fitness and performance, of a given telomere length in anthropogenically disturbed scenarios; and (iii) better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of telomere dynamics. Future studies in these facets will help to ultimately determine their role as markers of health and fitness in wildlife facing anthropogenic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Salmón
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK,Department of Plant Biology and EcologyFaculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)LeioaSpain
| | - Pablo Burraco
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
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Valera-Gran D, Prieto-Botella D, Hurtado-Pomares M, Baladia E, Petermann-Rocha F, Sánchez-Pérez A, Navarrete-Muñoz EM. The Impact of Foods, Nutrients, or Dietary Patterns on Telomere Length in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14193885. [PMID: 36235538 PMCID: PMC9570627 DOI: 10.3390/nu14193885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors such as diet can affect telomere length (TL) dynamics. However, the role that children’s and adolescents’ diets play in maintaining TL is not well understood. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to examine the association between the intake of nutrients, foods, food groups, and/or dietary patterns and TL in childhood and adolescence. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we searched MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases and additional registers and methods. The five selected studies were cross-sectional and conducted in children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years. The main results suggest that a higher consumption of fish, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables, green leafy and cruciferous vegetables, olives, legumes, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and an antioxidant-rich diet might positively affect TL. On the contrary, a higher intake of dairy products, simple sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages, cereals, especially white bread, and a diet high in glycaemic load were factors associated with TL shortening. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review examining the impact of dietary intake factors on TL in childhood and adolescence. Although limited, these results are consistent with previous studies in different adult populations. Further research is needed to ascertain potential nutritional determinants of TL in childhood and adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desirée Valera-Gran
- Grupo de Investigación en Terapia Ocupacional (InTeO), Department of Surgery and Pathology, Miguel Hernández University, 03550 Alicante, Spain
- Correspondence: (D.V.-G.); (A.S.-P.); Tel.: +34-965-233-705 (D.V.-G.)
| | - Daniel Prieto-Botella
- Grupo de Investigación en Terapia Ocupacional (InTeO), Department of Surgery and Pathology, Miguel Hernández University, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Miriam Hurtado-Pomares
- Grupo de Investigación en Terapia Ocupacional (InTeO), Department of Surgery and Pathology, Miguel Hernández University, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Eduard Baladia
- Centro de Análisis de la Evidencia Científica, Academia Española de Nutrición y Dietética, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fanny Petermann-Rocha
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago 8370109, Chile
| | - Alicia Sánchez-Pérez
- Grupo de Investigación en Terapia Ocupacional (InTeO), Department of Surgery and Pathology, Miguel Hernández University, 03550 Alicante, Spain
- Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL-FISABIO Foundation), 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Correspondence: (D.V.-G.); (A.S.-P.); Tel.: +34-965-233-705 (D.V.-G.)
| | - Eva-María Navarrete-Muñoz
- Grupo de Investigación en Terapia Ocupacional (InTeO), Department of Surgery and Pathology, Miguel Hernández University, 03550 Alicante, Spain
- Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL-FISABIO Foundation), 03010 Alicante, Spain
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Vaiserman A, Krasnienkov D. Telomere Length as a Marker of Biological Age: State-of-the-Art, Open Issues, and Future Perspectives. Front Genet 2021; 11:630186. [PMID: 33552142 PMCID: PMC7859450 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.630186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere shortening is a well-known hallmark of both cellular senescence and organismal aging. An accelerated rate of telomere attrition is also a common feature of age-related diseases. Therefore, telomere length (TL) has been recognized for a long time as one of the best biomarkers of aging. Recent research findings, however, indicate that TL per se can only allow a rough estimate of aging rate and can hardly be regarded as a clinically important risk marker for age-related pathologies and mortality. Evidence is obtained that other indicators such as certain immune parameters, indices of epigenetic age, etc., could be stronger predictors of the health status and the risk of chronic disease. However, despite these issues and limitations, TL remains to be very informative marker in accessing the biological age when used along with other markers such as indices of homeostatic dysregulation, frailty index, epigenetic clock, etc. This review article is aimed at describing the current state of the art in the field and at discussing recent research findings and divergent viewpoints regarding the usefulness of leukocyte TL for estimating the human biological age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Vaiserman
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, D.F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Dmytro Krasnienkov
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, D.F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology, Kyiv, Ukraine
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Extremely low birth weight influences the relationship between stress and telomere length in adulthood. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2020; 12:328-334. [PMID: 32468974 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420000409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the link between two biological markers of stress vulnerability at 22-26 years of age and telomere length at 30-35 among extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g) survivors and normal birth weight (NBW; >2500 g) control participants. Sixteen ELBW and 22 NBW participants provided baseline afternoon salivary cortisol samples and resting frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha asymmetry data at 22-26 years. Buccal cells were assayed for telomere length at 30-35 years. Analyses controlled for sex, postnatal steroid exposure, childhood socioeconomic status, time of cortisol sample collection, and body mass index at 22-26 years. Salivary cortisol and frontal asymmetry at age 22-26 independently predicted telomere length at age 30-35, such that relatively higher cortisol and greater relative right frontal asymmetry at rest predicted telomere shortening among NBW controls, but not among ELBW survivors. However, similar associations were not noted in ELBW survivors, suggesting that ELBW survivors may have different mechanisms of stress coping as a result of their early-life exposures. These findings offer preliminary evidence in support of the role of stress in the genesis of cellular senescence at least among those born at NBW, but that these links may differ in those born preterm.
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Wynchank D, Bijlenga D, Penninx BW, Lamers F, Beekman AT, Kooij JJS, Verhoeven JE. Delayed sleep-onset and biological age: late sleep-onset is associated with shorter telomere length. Sleep 2020; 42:5528107. [PMID: 31270544 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsz139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES We evaluated the relationship between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, and circadian rhythm, to test whether sleep and chronobiological dysregulations are associated with cellular aging. METHODS Data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (N = 2,936) were used at two waves 6 years apart, to measure LTL. Telomeres shorten during the life span and are important biomarkers for cellular aging. LTL was assessed by qualitative polymerase chain reaction and converted into base pair number. Sleep parameters were: sleep duration and insomnia symptoms from the Insomnia Rating Scale. Circadian rhythm variables were: indication of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS), mid-sleep corrected for sleep debt on free days (MSFsc), sleep-onset time, and self-reported chronotype, from the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. Generalized estimating equations analyzed the associations between LTL, sleep, and chronobiological factors, adjusted for baseline age, sex, North European ancestry, and additionally for current smoking, depression severity, obesity, and childhood trauma. RESULTS Indicators of delayed circadian rhythm showed a strong and consistent effect on LTL, after adjustment for sociodemographic and health indicators. Late MSFsc (B = -49.9, p = .004), late sleep-onset time (B = -32.4, p = .001), indication of DSPS (B = -73.8, p = .036), and moderately late chronotype in adulthood (B = -71.6, p = .003) were associated with significantly shorter LTL across both waves; whereas sleep duration and insomnia symptoms were not. Extremely early chronotype showed significantly less LTL shortening than intermediate chronotype (B = 161.40, p = .037). No predictors showed accelerated LTL attrition over 6 years. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with delayed circadian rhythm have significantly shorter LTL, but not faster LTL attrition rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Wynchank
- PsyQ Expertise Center Adult ADHD, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Denise Bijlenga
- PsyQ Expertise Center Adult ADHD, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Brenda W Penninx
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Femke Lamers
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aartjan T Beekman
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J J Sandra Kooij
- PsyQ Expertise Center Adult ADHD, The Hague, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Josine E Verhoeven
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Habib R, Ocklenburg S, Hoffjan S, Haghikia A, Epplen JT, Arning L. Association between shorter leukocyte telomeres and multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol 2020; 341:577187. [PMID: 32050150 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Relative telomere length (TL) is regarded as a biomarker of biological age. Accelerated immune aging, as represented by TL reduction, has been demonstrated in autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it is still unresolved whether telomere shortening is the cause or the consequence of the pathogenic events underlying autoimmunity. Assessing TL in whole blood DNA samples in 138 MS patients and 120 healthy controls showed reduced TL in patients as compared with controls There seems to be a prelude of accelerated telomere shortening, which may increase the risk for development of MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raneem Habib
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Biopsychology, Department of Psychology, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sabine Hoffjan
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
| | - Aiden Haghikia
- Department of Neurology, Ruhr-University Bochum, St. Josef-Hospital, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jörg Thomas Epplen
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany; Faculty of Health, University Witten-Herdecke, Germany
| | - Larissa Arning
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany.
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Niu Z, Li K, Xie C, Wen X. Adverse Birth Outcomes and Birth Telomere Length: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pediatr 2019; 215:64-74.e6. [PMID: 31630890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To synthesize previous findings on the difference in birth telomere length between newborns with and without intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or with and without preterm birth. STUDY DESIGN We systematically searched 3 databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) for publications that examined the relationships of IUGR or preterm birth with birth telomere length. We conducted meta-analysis to pool the estimated difference in birth telomere length either between IUGR and non-IUGR or between preterm birth and full-term birth. Subgroup analyses were conducted by tissues (newborn blood vs placenta) and techniques used for telomere length measurement (quantitative polymerase chain reaction [qPCR] vs telomere restriction fragment). RESULTS We included 11 articles on comparing birth telomere length between IUGR (combined n = 227) and non-IUGR (n = 1897) and 7 articles on comparing birth telomere length between preterm birth (n = 182) and full-term birth (n = 1320). We found IUGR was associated with shorter birth telomere length only when birth telomere length was measured in placenta (pooled standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.85; 95% CI -1.13 to -0.57; IUGR/non-IUGR n = 87/173), but not in newborn blood (pooled SMD = 0.00, 95% CI -0.18 to 0.19; IUGR/non-IUGR n = 148/1733). Birth telomere length was significantly longer in preterm birth than in full-term birth when birth telomere length was measured by qPCR (pooled SMD = 0.40, 95% CI 0.18-0.63; preterm birth/full-term birth n = 137/682) but not by telomere restriction fragment (pooled SMD = 0.05, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.38; preterm birth/full-term birth n = 44/444). CONCLUSIONS IUGR is associated with shorter placental telomere length and preterm birth is associated with longer birth telomere length measured by qPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongzheng Niu
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
| | - Karen Li
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; College of Health Professions, Lienhard School of Nursing, Pace University, New York, NY
| | - Chuanbo Xie
- Department of Cancer Prevention Research, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaozhong Wen
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
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Willis M, Staudinger UM, Factor-Litvak P, Calvo E. Stress and Salivary Telomere Length in the Second Half of Life: A Comparison of Life-course Models. ADVANCES IN LIFE COURSE RESEARCH 2019; 39:34-41. [PMID: 31186623 PMCID: PMC6557584 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcr.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Background Previous research has explored the relationship between childhood and adulthood stressful life events (SLEs) and adult salivary telomere length (TL), but no research to date has tested different life-course models in which stress in adulthood may fully, partly, or not mediate the relationship between childhood stress and adult TL. Methods To fill this gap, we elaborate over previous work by Puterman et al. (2016) and other standard models that do not account for the temporal order of stressors in childhood and adulthood, by using structural equation modeling (SEM) for a sample of 5,754 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) participants to compare the fit of three nested life-course models-social trajectory, early critical period, and cumulative risk. Results Results indicated that the social trajectory model, in which the association between childhood SLEs and TL in later adulthood is fully mediated by adulthood SLEs, fit the data better than the early critical period (no mediation) and cumulative risk (partial mediation) models. Conclusion In the social trajectory model, childhood SLEs are related to TL in later life only through adulthood SLEs. The direct physiological effect of childhood SLEs on TL in later life would be overestimated if adulthood SLEs are overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Willis
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
| | - Ursula M. Staudinger
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
| | - Pam Factor-Litvak
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
| | - Esteban Calvo
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University
- Society and Health Research Center, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad Mayor
- Laboratory on Aging and Social Epidemiology, Universidad Mayor
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Bijnens EM, Zeegers MP, Derom C, Martens DS, Gielen M, Hageman GJ, Plusquin M, Thiery E, Vlietinck R, Nawrot TS. Telomere tracking from birth to adulthood and residential traffic exposure. BMC Med 2017; 15:205. [PMID: 29157235 PMCID: PMC5697215 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-017-0964-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere attrition is extremely rapid during the first years of life, while lifestyle during adulthood exerts a minor impact. This suggests that early life is an important period in the determination of telomere length. We investigated the importance of the early-life environment on both telomere tracking and adult telomere length. METHODS Among 184 twins of the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey, telomere length in placental tissue and in buccal cells in young adulthood was measured. Residential addresses at birth and in young adulthood were geocoded and residential traffic and greenness exposure was determined. RESULTS We investigated individual telomere tracking from birth over a 20 year period (mean age (SD), 22.6 (3.1) years) in association with residential exposure to traffic and greenness. Telomere length in placental tissue and in buccal cells in young adulthood correlated positively (r = 0.31, P < 0.0001). Persons with higher placental telomere length at birth were more likely to have a stronger downward shift in telomere ranking over life (P < 0.0001). Maternal residential traffic exposure correlated inversely with telomere length at birth. Independent of birth placental telomere length, telomere ranking between birth and young adulthood was negatively and significantly associated with residential traffic exposure at the birth address, while traffic exposure at the residential address at adult age was not associated with telomere length. CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal evidence of telomere length tracking from birth to adulthood shows inverse associations of residential traffic exposure in association with telomere length at birth as well as accelerated telomere shortening in the first two decades of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmée M Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,Department of Complex Genetics, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Maurice P Zeegers
- Department of Complex Genetics, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Catherine Derom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ghent University Hospitals, Ghent, Belgium.,Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Marij Gielen
- Department of Complex Genetics, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Geja J Hageman
- Department of Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Evert Thiery
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospitals, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robert Vlietinck
- Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium. .,Department of Public Health, Leuven University (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
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