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Frydrychová RČ, Konopová B, Peska V, Brejcha M, Sábová M. Telomeres and telomerase: active but complex players in life-history decisions. Biogerontology 2024; 25:205-226. [PMID: 37610666 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10060-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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Studies on human telomeres have established that telomeres exert a significant influence on lifespan and health of organisms. However, recent research has indicated that the original idea that telomeres affect lifespan in a universal and central manner across all eukaryotic species is an oversimplification. Indeed, findings from a variety of animal species revealed that the role of telomere biology in aging is more subtle and intricate than previously recognized. Here, we show how telomere biology varies depending on the taxon. We also show how telomere biology corresponds to basic life history traits and affects the life table of a species and investments in growth, body size, reproduction, and lifespan; telomeres are hypothesized to shape evolutionary perspectives for species in an active but complex manner. Our evaluation is based on telomere biology data from many examples from throughout the animal kingdom that vary according to the degree of organismal complexity and life history strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radmila Čapková Frydrychová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Barbora Konopová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Vratislav Peska
- Department of Cell Biology and Radiobiology, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miloslav Brejcha
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michala Sábová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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2
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Poot M. The Legacy of George M. Martin: From Segmental Progeroid Syndromes to Antigeroid Syndromes. Cytogenet Genome Res 2024; 163:231-235. [PMID: 38522422 DOI: 10.1159/000537967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Poot
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
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3
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Bosquet Enlow M, De Vivo I, Petty CR, Nelson CA. Temperament and sex as moderating factors of the effects of exposure to maternal depression on telomere length in early childhood. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38426330 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424000518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Individual differences in sensitivity to context are posited to emerge early in development and to influence the effects of environmental exposures on a range of developmental outcomes. The goal of the current study was to examine the hypothesis that temperament characteristics and biological sex confer differential vulnerability to the effects of exposure to maternal depression on telomere length in early childhood. Telomere length has emerged as a potentially important biomarker of current and future health, with possible mechanistic involvement in the onset of various disease states. Participants comprised a community sample of children followed from infancy to age 3 years. Relative telomere length was assessed from DNA in saliva samples collected at infancy, 2 years, and 3 years. Maternal depressive symptoms and the child temperament traits of negative affectivity, surgency/extraversion, and regulation/effortful control were assessed via maternal report at each timepoint. Analyses revealed a 3-way interaction among surgency/extraversion, sex, and maternal depressive symptoms, such that higher surgency/extraversion was associated with shorter telomere length specifically among males exposed to elevated maternal depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that temperament and sex influence children's susceptibility to the effects of maternal depression on telomere dynamics in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Program in Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carter R Petty
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Boston, MA, USA
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4
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Pepke ML. Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300187. [PMID: 38047504 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are short repetitive DNA sequences capping the ends of chromosomes. Telomere shortening occurs during cell division and may be accelerated by oxidative damage or ameliorated by telomere maintenance mechanisms. Consequently, telomere length changes with age, which was recently confirmed in a large meta-analysis across vertebrates. However, based on the correlation between telomere length and age, it was concluded that telomere length can be used as a tool for chronological age estimation in animals. Correlation should not be confused with predictability, and the current data and studies suggest that telomeres cannot be used to reliably predict individual chronological age. There are biological reasons for why there is large individual variation in telomere dynamics, which is mainly due to high susceptibility to a wide range of environmental, but also genetic factors, rendering telomeres unfeasible as a tool for age estimation. The use of telomeres for chronological age estimation is largely a misguided effort, but its occasional reappearance in the literature raises concerns that it will mislead resources in wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Pepke
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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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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Bortz J, Guariglia A, Klaric L, Tang D, Ward P, Geer M, Chadeau-Hyam M, Vuckovic D, Joshi PK. Biological age estimation using circulating blood biomarkers. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1089. [PMID: 37884697 PMCID: PMC10603148 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05456-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological age captures physiological deterioration better than chronological age and is amenable to interventions. Blood-based biomarkers have been identified as suitable candidates for biological age estimation. This study aims to improve biological age estimation using machine learning models and a feature-set of 60 circulating biomarkers available from the UK Biobank (n = 306,116). We implement an Elastic-Net derived Cox model with 25 selected biomarkers to predict mortality risk (C-Index = 0.778; 95% CI [0.767-0.788]), which outperforms the well-known blood-biomarker based PhenoAge model (C-Index = 0.750; 95% CI [0.739-0.761]), providing a C-Index lift of 0.028 representing an 11% relative increase in predictive value. Importantly, we then show that using common clinical assay panels, with few biomarkers, alongside imputation and the model derived on the full set of biomarkers, does not substantially degrade predictive accuracy from the theoretical maximum achievable for the available biomarkers. Biological age is estimated as the equivalent age within the same-sex population which corresponds to an individual's mortality risk. Values ranged between 20-years younger and 20-years older than individuals' chronological age, exposing the magnitude of ageing signals contained in blood markers. Thus, we demonstrate a practical and cost-efficient method of estimating an improved measure of Biological Age, available to the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Bortz
- Humanity Inc, Humanity, 177 Huntington Ave, Ste 1700, Humanity Inc - 91556, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Andrea Guariglia
- Humanity Inc, Humanity, 177 Huntington Ave, Ste 1700, Humanity Inc - 91556, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Lucija Klaric
- Humanity Inc, Humanity, 177 Huntington Ave, Ste 1700, Humanity Inc - 91556, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - David Tang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Peter Ward
- Humanity Inc, Humanity, 177 Huntington Ave, Ste 1700, Humanity Inc - 91556, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Geer
- Humanity Inc, Humanity, 177 Huntington Ave, Ste 1700, Humanity Inc - 91556, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Marc Chadeau-Hyam
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- NIHR-HPRU, Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Public Health England and Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Dragana Vuckovic
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- NIHR-HPRU, Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Public Health England and Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Peter K Joshi
- Humanity Inc, Humanity, 177 Huntington Ave, Ste 1700, Humanity Inc - 91556, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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Houminer-Klepar N, Bord S, Epel E, Baron-Epel O. Are pregnancy and parity associated with telomere length? A systematic review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:733. [PMID: 37848852 PMCID: PMC10583451 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-06011-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women's reproduction requires increased energy demands, which consequently may lead to cellular damage and aging. Hence, Telomere Length (TL), a biomarker of biological aging and health status may possibly serve as a biomarker of reproductive effort. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate telomere dynamics throughout pregnancy and the association between parity and TL. METHODS A systematic search was conducted across seven databases including CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, Proquest, PubMed; Scopus; and Web of Science, using keywords and MeSH descriptors of parity and TL. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to screen abstracts and titles. After the removal of duplicates, 3431 articles were included in the primary screening, narrowed to 194 articles included in the full-text screening. Consensus was reached for the 14 studies that were included in the final review, and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) was utilized to assess the quality of the selected studies. A mini meta-analysis utilized JASP 0.17.3 software and included 4 applicable studies, comprising a total of 2564 participants to quantitatively assess the estimated effect size of parity on TL. RESULTS Of the 11 studies reviewed on parity and TL, four demonstrated a negative correlation; one - a positive correlation and six -found no correlation. Studies demonstrating a negative correlation encompassed rigorous methodological practices possibly suggesting having more children is associated with enhanced telomere attrition. Of the four longitudinal studies assessing telomere dynamics throughout pregnancy, most found no change in TL from early pregnancy to postpartum suggesting pregnancy does not affect TL from early pregnancy to early postpartum. The meta-analysis revealed a negative, yet, non-significant effect, of the estimated effect size of parity on TL(ES = -0.009, p = 0.126, CI -0.021, 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Studies assessing pregnancy, parity and TL yielded mixed results, most likely due to the different research methods utilized in each study. Improvements in study design to better understand the short-term effects of pregnancy on TL and the effect of parity on TL over time, include precise definitions of parity, comparisons of different age groups, inclusion of reproductive lifespan and statistically adjusting for potential confounders in the parity and TL relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nourit Houminer-Klepar
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, 31905, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Shiran Bord
- Health Systems Management Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, 1930600, Yezreel Valley, Israel
| | - Elissa Epel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, 675 18th St, San Francisco, CA, 94107, USA
| | - Orna Baron-Epel
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, 31905, Haifa, Israel
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Ye Q, Apsley AT, Etzel L, Hastings WJ, Kozlosky JT, Walker C, Wolf SE, Shalev I. Telomere length and chronological age across the human lifespan: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 414 study samples including 743,019 individuals. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 90:102031. [PMID: 37567392 PMCID: PMC10529491 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Telomere attrition is a proposed hallmark of aging. To evaluate the association of telomere length (TL) with chronological age across the human lifespan, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 414 study samples comprising 743,019 individuals aged 0-112 years. We examined both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, and evaluated the impact of various biological and methodological factors including sex, health status, tissue types, DNA extraction procedures, and TL measurement methods. The pooled corrected correlation between TL and age from cross-sectional samples was -0.19 (95%CI: -0.22 to -0.15), which weakened with increased chronological age (β = 0.003, p < 0.001). Z-score change rates of TL across the lifespan showed a gradual decrease in shortening rate until around age 50 and remained at a relatively stable rate towards the elderly period. A greater attrition rate was observed in longitudinal than cross-sectional evaluations. For TL measured in base pairs, the median change rate of TL was -23 bp/year in cross-sectional samples and -38 bp/year in longitudinal samples. Methodological factors including TL measurement methods and tissue types impacted the TL-age correlation, while sex or disease status did not. This meta-analysis revealed the non-linear shortening trend of TL across the human lifespan and provides a reference value for future studies. Results also highlight the importance of methodological considerations when using TL as an aging biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaofeng Ye
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Abner T Apsley
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Biological Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Laura Etzel
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Waylon J Hastings
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tulane University School of Medicine, LA 70112, USA.
| | - John T Kozlosky
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Cade Walker
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Sarah E Wolf
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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Wolf SE, Shalev I. The shelterin protein expansion of telomere dynamics: Linking early life adversity, life history, and the hallmarks of aging. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105261. [PMID: 37268182 PMCID: PMC10527177 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105261] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Aging is characterized by functional decline occurring alongside changes to several hallmarks of aging. One of the hallmarks includes attrition of repeated DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes called telomeres. While telomere attrition is linked to morbidity and mortality, whether and how it causally contributes to lifelong rates of functional decline is unclear. In this review, we propose the shelterin-telomere hypothesis of life history, in which telomere-binding shelterin proteins translate telomere attrition into a range of physiological outcomes, the extent of which may be modulated by currently understudied variation in shelterin protein levels. Shelterin proteins may expand the breadth and timing of consequences of telomere attrition, e.g., by translating early life adversity into acceleration of the aging process. We consider how the pleiotropic roles of shelterin proteins provide novel insights into natural variation in physiology, life history, and lifespan. We highlight key open questions that encourage the integrative, organismal study of shelterin proteins that enhances our understanding of the contribution of the telomere system to aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wolf
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Derenzini E, Gueli A, Risso A, Bruna R, Gottardi D, Cignetti A, Pileri S, Avvedimento EV, Tarella C. Long telomeres at baseline and male sex are main determinants of telomere loss following chemotherapy exposure in lymphoma patients. Hematol Oncol 2023; 41:335-342. [PMID: 36533316 DOI: 10.1002/hon.3118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Although chemotherapy (CHT) exposure is an established cause of telomere attrition, determinants of telomere length (TL) dynamics after chemotherapy are poorly defined. In this study, we analyzed granulocyte telomere dynamics in 34 adult lymphoma patients undergoing first-line CHT. TL was measured by southern blot at each CHT cycle and after 1 year from CHT completion. Median age was 59 yrs (range 22-77). Median number of CHT cycles was 6 (range 3-6). The majority of patients (79%, n = 27) experienced TL shortening following CHT exposure. Mean telomere loss was 673 base pairs (bp) by cycle 6. Telomere shortening was an early event as 87% of the total telomere loss (mean 586 bp) occurred by the end of cycle 3, with no significant recovery after 1 year. A significant correlation was observed between baseline TL and total or fractional telomere loss (p < 0.001), with telomere shortening by cycle 3 observed predominantly in male patients with long telomeres at pre-treatment evaluation. Stratifying the analysis by gender and age only young women (<51 years of age) did not show significant telomere shortening following chemotherapy exposure. These findings indicate that gender and baseline TL are major determinants of TL dynamics following chemotherapy exposure in lymphoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Derenzini
- Onco-Hematology Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Gueli
- Internal Medicine Unit, Ciriè Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandra Risso
- Division of Gastroenterology, Città della Salute e della Scienza University-Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Riccardo Bruna
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont and Ospedale Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy
| | - Daniela Gottardi
- Hematology and Cell Therapy, A.O.U. S. Giovanni Battista A.O. Mauriziano-Umberto I, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cignetti
- Hematology and Cell Therapy, A.O.U. S. Giovanni Battista A.O. Mauriziano-Umberto I, Turin, Italy
| | - Stefano Pileri
- Division of diagnostic Haematopathology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico V Avvedimento
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Corrado Tarella
- Onco-Hematology Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Sulyok E, Farkas B, Bodis J. Pathomechanisms of Prenatally Programmed Adult Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1354. [PMID: 37507894 PMCID: PMC10376205 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12071354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on epidemiological observations Barker et al. put forward the hypothesis/concept that an adverse intrauterine environment (involving an insufficient nutrient supply, chronic hypoxia, stress, and toxic substances) is an important risk factor for the development of chronic diseases later in life. The fetus responds to the unfavorable environment with adaptive reactions, which ensure survival in the short run, but at the expense of initiating pathological processes leading to adult diseases. In this review, the major mechanisms (including telomere dysfunction, epigenetic modifications, and cardiovascular-renal-endocrine-metabolic reactions) will be outlined, with a particular emphasis on the role of oxidative stress in the fetal origin of adult diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Endre Sulyok
- National Laboratory on Human Reproduction, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- MTA-PTE Human Reproduction Scientific Research Group, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Balint Farkas
- National Laboratory on Human Reproduction, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- MTA-PTE Human Reproduction Scientific Research Group, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Jozsef Bodis
- National Laboratory on Human Reproduction, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- MTA-PTE Human Reproduction Scientific Research Group, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
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12
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Roka K, Solomou EE, Kattamis A. Telomere biology: from disorders to hematological diseases. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1167848. [PMID: 37274248 PMCID: PMC10235513 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1167848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Variations in the length of telomeres and pathogenic variants involved in telomere length maintenance have been correlated with several human diseases. Recent breakthroughs in telomere biology knowledge have contributed to the identification of illnesses named "telomeropathies" and revealed an association between telomere length and disease outcome. This review emphasizes the biology and physiology aspects of telomeres and describes prototype diseases in which telomeres are implicated in their pathophysiology. We also provide information on the role of telomeres in hematological diseases ranging from bone marrow failure syndromes to acute and chronic leukemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kleoniki Roka
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, First Department of Pediatrics, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Full Member of ERN GENTURIS, Athens, Greece
| | - Elena E. Solomou
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Greece
| | - Antonis Kattamis
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, First Department of Pediatrics, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Full Member of ERN GENTURIS, Athens, Greece
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13
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Meesters M, Van Eetvelde M, Martens DS, Nawrot TS, Dewulf M, Govaere J, Opsomer G. Prenatal environment impacts telomere length in newborn dairy heifers. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4672. [PMID: 36949104 PMCID: PMC10033676 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31943-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere length is associated with longevity and survival in multiple species. In human population-based studies, multiple prenatal factors have been described to be associated with a newborn's telomere length. In the present study, we measured relative leukocyte telomere length in 210 Holstein Friesian heifers, within the first ten days of life. The dam's age, parity, and milk production parameters, as well as environmental factors during gestation were assessed for their potential effect on telomere length. We found that for both primi- and multiparous dams, the telomere length was 1.16% shorter for each day increase in the calf's age at sampling (P = 0.017). The dam's age at parturition (P = 0.045), and the median temperature-humidity index (THI) during the third trimester of gestation (P = 0.006) were also negatively associated with the calves' TL. Investigating multiparous dams separately, only the calf's age at sampling was significantly and negatively associated with the calves' TL (P = 0.025). Results of the present study support the hypothesis that in cattle, early life telomere length is influenced by prenatal factors. Furthermore, the results suggest that selecting heifers born in winter out of young dams might contribute to increased longevity in dairy cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Meesters
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Mieke Van Eetvelde
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Research Unit Environment and Health, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manon Dewulf
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Jan Govaere
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Geert Opsomer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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14
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Longitudinal telomere dynamics within natural lifespans of a wild bird. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4272. [PMID: 36922555 PMCID: PMC10017829 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31435-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres, the nucleotide sequences that protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, shorten with each cell division and telomere loss may be influenced by environmental factors. Telomere length (TL) decreases with age in several species, but little is known about the sources of genetic and environmental variation in the change in TL (∆TL) in wild animals. In this study, we tracked changes in TL throughout the natural lifespan (from a few months to almost 9 years) of free-living house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in two different island populations. TL was measured in nestlings and subsequently up to four times during their lifetime. TL generally decreased with age (senescence), but we also observed instances of telomere lengthening within individuals. We found some evidence for selective disappearance of individuals with shorter telomeres through life. Early-life TL positively predicted later-life TL, but the within-individual repeatability in TL was low (9.2%). Using genetic pedigrees, we found a moderate heritability of ∆TL (h2 = 0.21), which was higher than the heritabilities of early-life TL (h2 = 0.14) and later-life TL measurements (h2 = 0.15). Cohort effects explained considerable proportions of variation in early-life TL (60%), later-life TL (53%), and ∆TL (37%), which suggests persistent impacts of the early-life environment on lifelong telomere dynamics. Individual changes in TL were independent of early-life TL. Finally, there was weak evidence for population differences in ∆TL that may be linked to ecological differences in habitat types. Combined, our results show that individual telomere biology is highly dynamic and influenced by both genetic and environmental variation in natural conditions.
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15
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Telomere Length Changes in Cancer: Insights on Carcinogenesis and Potential for Non-Invasive Diagnostic Strategies. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14030715. [PMID: 36980987 PMCID: PMC10047978 DOI: 10.3390/genes14030715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere dynamics play a crucial role in the maintenance of chromosome integrity; changes in telomere length may thus contribute to the development of various diseases including cancer. Understanding the role of telomeric DNA in carcinogenesis and detecting the presence of cell-free telomeric DNA (cf-telDNA) in body fluids offer a potential biomarker for novel cancer screening and diagnostic strategies. Liquid biopsy is becoming increasingly popular due to its undeniable benefits over conventional invasive methods. However, the organization and function of cf-telDNA in the extracellular milieu are understudied. This paper provides a review based on 3,398,017 cancer patients, patients with other conditions, and control individuals with the aim to shed more light on the inconsistent nature of telomere lengthening/shortening in oncological contexts. To gain a better understanding of biological factors (e.g., telomerase activation, alternative lengthening of telomeres) affecting telomere homeostasis across different types of cancer, we summarize mechanisms responsible for telomere length maintenance. In conclusion, we compare tissue- and liquid biopsy-based approaches in cancer assessment and provide a brief outlook on the methodology used for telomere length evaluation, highlighting the advances of state-of-the-art approaches in the field.
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16
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Wolf SE, Zhang S, Clotfelter ED. Experimental ectoparasite removal has a sex-specific effect on nestling telomere length. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9861. [PMID: 36911306 PMCID: PMC9992774 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites are a strong selective force that can influence fitness-related traits. The length of chromosome-capping telomeres can be used to assess the long-term costs of parasitism, as telomere loss accelerates in response to environmental stressors and often precedes poorer survival prospects. Here, we explored the sex-specific effects of ectoparasite removal on morphology and telomere length in nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). To do so, we experimentally removed blow fly (Protocalliphora spp.) larvae from nests using Permethrin, a broad-spectrum insecticide. Compared to water-treated controls, insecticide treatment of nests had a sex-biased effect on blood telomere length: ectoparasite removal resulted in significantly longer telomeres in males but not females. While this treatment did not influence nestling body mass, it was associated with reduced feather development regardless of sex. This may reflect a relaxed pressure to fledge quickly in the absence of parasites, or alternatively, could be a negative side effect of permethrin on morphology. Exploring robust sex-specific telomere dynamics in response to early-life environmental pressures such as parasitism will shed light on sexual dimorphism in adult life histories and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wolf
- Department of Biology Indiana University Bloomington Indiana USA.,Department of Biobehavioral Health Pennsylvania State University State College Pennsylvania USA
| | - Samuel Zhang
- Department of Biology Amherst College Amherst Massachusetts USA
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17
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Zong ZQ, Chen SW, Wu Y, Gui SY, Zhang XJ, Hu CY. Ambient air pollution exposure and telomere length: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health 2023; 215:42-55. [PMID: 36642039 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to provide evidence of the associations between pre- and post-birth and adulthood air pollution exposure with telomere length. STUDY DESIGN The databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched up to June 1st, 2022 in order to include relevant observational studies and perform a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS The random-effects meta-analysis was grouped by air pollutant and exposure window (pre- and post-birth and adulthood) to evaluate the summary effect estimate. Cochran's Q and I2 statistics were used to evaluate the heterogeneity among the included studies. The quality of individual studies was evaluated using the national toxicology program/office of health assessment and translation risk of bias rating tool. RESULTS We identified 18 studies, covering 8506 children and 2263 adults from multiple countries. We found moderate evidence that particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) exposure during the entire pregnancy (-0.043, 95% CI: -0.067, -0.018), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure during the first trimester (-0.016, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.027, -0.005), long-term adulthood PM2.5 exposure were associated with shortening telomere length. Mild to high between-study heterogeneity was observed for the most tested air pollutant-telomere length combinations in different exposure windows. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review and meta-analysis provides the evidence which strongly supports that prenatal PM2.5 and NO2 exposures were related to reduced telomere length, while prenatal sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) exposures, childhood PM2.5, particulate matter less than 10 μm (PM10), NO2 exposures and short-term adulthood PM2.5 and PM10 exposures were not associated with telomere length. Further high-quality studies are needed to elaborate our suggestive associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z-Q Zong
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China
| | - S-W Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Y Wu
- Oncology Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, Hefei 230022, China; The Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Cancer Center of Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China
| | - S-Y Gui
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China
| | - X-J Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - C-Y Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Humanistic Medicine, School of Humanistic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China.
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18
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Moustakli E, Zikopoulos A, Sakaloglou P, Bouba I, Sofikitis N, Georgiou I. Functional association between telomeres, oxidation and mitochondria. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2023; 5:1107215. [PMID: 36890798 PMCID: PMC9986632 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2023.1107215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Prior research has substantiated the vital role of telomeres in human fertility. Telomeres are prerequisites for maintaining the integrity of chromosomes by preventing the loss of genetic material following replication events. Little is known about the association between sperm telomere length and mitochondrial capacity involving its structure and functions. Mitochondria are structurally and functionally distinct organelles that are located on the spermatozoon's midpiece. Mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which is necessary for sperm motility and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). While a moderate concentration of ROS is critical for egg-sperm fusion, and fertilization, excessive ROS generation is primarily related to telomere shortening, sperm DNA fragmentation, and alterations in the methylation pattern leading to male infertility. This review aims to highlight the functional connection between mitochondria biogenesis and telomere length in male infertility, as mitochondrial lesions have a damaging impact on telomere length, leading both to telomere lengthening and reprogramming of mitochondrial biosynthesis. Furthermore, it aims to shed light on how both inositol and antioxidants can positively affect male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthalia Moustakli
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | | | - Prodromos Sakaloglou
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Ioanna Bouba
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Sofikitis
- Department of Urology, Ioannina University School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Ioannis Georgiou
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
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19
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Zheng B, Fu J. Telomere dysfunction in some pediatric congenital and growth-related diseases. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1133102. [PMID: 37077333 PMCID: PMC10106694 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1133102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere wear and dysfunction may lead to aging-related diseases. Moreover, increasing evidence show that the occurrence, development, and prognosis of some pediatric diseases are also related to telomere dysfunction. In this review, we systematically analyzed the relationship between telomere biology and some pediatric congenital and growth-related diseases and proposed new theoretical basis and therapeutic targets for the treatment of these diseases.
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20
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Wong KK, Cheng F, Lim CKP, Tam CHT, Tutino G, Yuen LY, Wang CC, Hou Y, Chan MHM, Ho CS, Joglekar MV, Hardikar AA, Jenkins AJ, Metzger BE, Lowe WL, Tam WH, Ma RCW. Early emergence of sexual dimorphism in offspring leukocyte telomere length was associated with maternal and children's glucose metabolism-a longitudinal study. BMC Med 2022; 20:490. [PMID: 36536359 PMCID: PMC9764638 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02687-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is suggested to be a biomarker of biological age and reported to be associated with metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Glucose metabolic traits including glucose and insulin levels have been reported to be associated with LTL in adulthood. However, there is relatively little research focusing on children's LTL and the association with prenatal exposures. This study investigates the relationship between maternal and offspring glucose metabolism with offspring LTL in early life. METHODS This study included 882 mother-child pairs from the HAPO Hong Kong Field Centre, with children evaluated at age 7.0 ± 0.4 (mean ± SD) years. Glucose metabolic traits including maternal post-load glucose during pregnancy, children's glucose and insulin levels, and their derived indices at follow-up were measured or calculated. Offspring LTL was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Sex- and age-adjusted children's LTL was found to be associated with children's HOMA-IR (β=-0.046 ± 0.016, p=0.005). Interestingly, both children's and maternal post-load glucose levels were positively associated with children's LTL. However, negative associations were observed between children's LTL and children's OGTT insulin levels. In addition, the LTL in females was more strongly associated with pancreatic beta-cell function whilst LTL in males was more strongly associated with OGTT glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest a close association between maternal and offspring glucose metabolic traits with early life LTL, with the offspring sex as an important modifier of the disparate relationships in insulin production and response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwun Kiu Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Feifei Cheng
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Cadmon K P Lim
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Claudia H T Tam
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Greg Tutino
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Lai Yuk Yuen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chi Chiu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Chinese University of Hong Kong-Sichuan University Joint Laboratory in Reproductive Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Yong Hou
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Michael H M Chan
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chung Shun Ho
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Mugdha V Joglekar
- Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia.,NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Anandwardhan A Hardikar
- Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia.,NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Alicia J Jenkins
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.,NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Boyd E Metzger
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - William L Lowe
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Wing Hung Tam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Ronald C W Ma
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. .,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. .,Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. .,Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Research Centre in Diabetes Genomics and Precision Medicine, Shatin, Hong Kong. .,Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
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21
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Guo J, Huang X, Dou L, Yan M, Shen T, Tang W, Li J. Aging and aging-related diseases: from molecular mechanisms to interventions and treatments. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:391. [PMID: 36522308 PMCID: PMC9755275 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01251-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 88.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a gradual and irreversible pathophysiological process. It presents with declines in tissue and cell functions and significant increases in the risks of various aging-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, and immune system diseases. Although the development of modern medicine has promoted human health and greatly extended life expectancy, with the aging of society, a variety of chronic diseases have gradually become the most important causes of disability and death in elderly individuals. Current research on aging focuses on elucidating how various endogenous and exogenous stresses (such as genomic instability, telomere dysfunction, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, compromise of autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, altered intercellular communication, deregulated nutrient sensing) participate in the regulation of aging. Furthermore, thorough research on the pathogenesis of aging to identify interventions that promote health and longevity (such as caloric restriction, microbiota transplantation, and nutritional intervention) and clinical treatment methods for aging-related diseases (depletion of senescent cells, stem cell therapy, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory treatments, and hormone replacement therapy) could decrease the incidence and development of aging-related diseases and in turn promote healthy aging and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Guo
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Xiuqing Huang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Lin Dou
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Mingjing Yan
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Tao Shen
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Weiqing Tang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Jian Li
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, 100730 China
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22
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Han J, Hayashi S, Takahashi RU, Hirohata R, Kurokawa T, Tashiro M, Yamamoto Y, Okada M, Tahara H. Leukocyte Telomeric G-Tail Length Shortening Is Associated with Esophageal Cancer Recurrence. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11247385. [PMID: 36556001 PMCID: PMC9784295 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11247385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite significant advances in therapeutics for esophageal cancer (ESC) in the past decade, it remains the sixth most fatal malignancy, with a poor 5-year survival rate (approximately 10%). There is an urgent need to improve the timely diagnosis to aid the prediction of the therapeutic response and prognosis of patients with ESC. The telomeric G-tail plays an important role in the chromosome protection. However, aging and age-related diseases lead to its shortening. Therefore, the G-tail length has been proposed as a novel potential biomarker. In the present study, to examine the possibility of G-tail shortening in patients with ESC, we measured the leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and the G-tail length using a hybridization protection assay in 147 patients with ESC and 170 age-matched healthy controls. We found that the G-tail length in patients with ESC was shorter than that in the healthy controls (p = 0.02), while the LTL shortening was not correlated with the ESC incidence and recurrence. Our results suggest that the G-tail length reflects the physiological status of patients with ESC and is a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of ESC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayan Han
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Soichiro Hayashi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Ryou-u Takahashi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Hirohata
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-0037, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Kurokawa
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-0037, Japan
| | - Mizuki Tashiro
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamamoto
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Morihito Okada
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-0037, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Tahara
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-08-2257-5290 (ext. 5290)
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23
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Remot F, Ronget V, Froy H, Rey B, Gaillard JM, Nussey DH, Lemaitre JF. Decline in telomere length with increasing age across nonhuman vertebrates: A meta-analysis. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5917-5932. [PMID: 34437736 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The prediction that telomere length (TL) shortens with increasing age is a major element in considering the role of telomeres as a key player in evolution. While telomere attrition is found in humans both in vitro and in vivo, the increasing number of studies reporting diverse age-specific patterns of TL challenges the hypothesis of a universal decline of TL with increasing age. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate the relationship between TL and age across 175 estimates encompassing 98 species of vertebrates. We found that, on average, TL does decline with increasing age during adulthood. However, this decline was weak and variable across vertebrate classes, and we also found evidence for a publication bias that might weaken our current evidence of decreasing TL with increasing age. We found no evidence for a faster decline in TL with increasing age when considering the juvenile stage (from birth to age at first reproduction) compared to the adult stage. Heterogeneity in TL ageing rates was explained by the method used to measure telomeres: detectable TL declines with increasing age were found only among studies using TRF with in-gel hybridisation and qFISH methods, but not in studies using qPCR and Southern blot-based TRF methods. While we confirmed that TL declines with increasing age in most adult vertebrates, our results identify an influence of telomere measurement methodology, which highlights the need to examine more thoroughly the effect of the method of measurement on TL estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentin Remot
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Victor Ronget
- Unité Eco-anthropologie (EA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jean-François Lemaitre
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
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Memaran N, Wilke H, Sugianto RI, Baumann U, Bauer E, Swallow M, Beuke E, Junge N, Pfister ED, Grabitz C, Richter N, Goldschmidt I, Schmidt BMW, Melk A. Telomere length is associated with intima-media thickness in pediatric liver transplant patients: A prospective cohort study. Liver Transpl 2022; 28:1766-1775. [PMID: 35666175 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a marker for biological age. Pediatric liver transplant recipients show a high rate of subclinical atherosclerosis, indicated by elevated intima-media thickness (IMT). We hypothesized that atherosclerosis is associated with biological age in these patients and investigated the course of LTL over time. We measured LTL from peripheral blood leukocytes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and IMT from 97 pediatric patients after liver transplantation in a prospective cohort study. Of the patients, 71% (n = 69) had two or more assessments (total, 228 observations; median follow-up, 1.1 years). Lower LTL was associated with higher IMT (β = -0.701, p = 0.01) and higher aspartate aminotransferase (β = -0.001, p = 0.02), adjusted for age, sex, and age at transplantation. Of the patients, 45% showed decreasing LTL over time, whereas 55% exhibited stable LTL. Patients with stable LTL showed a decrease in IMT (median, -0.02 mm/year) and a decrease of tacrolimus trough levels (median, -0.08 μg/L/year). LTL is associated with IMT independent of age in pediatric liver transplant patients, suggesting that early aging contributes to the high burden of subclinical cardiovascular damage and may furthermore negatively affect the graft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Memaran
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hannes Wilke
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rizky I Sugianto
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrich Baumann
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Elena Bauer
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maxine Swallow
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Esther Beuke
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Norman Junge
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Eva D Pfister
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Carl Grabitz
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nicolas Richter
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Imeke Goldschmidt
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bernhard M W Schmidt
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anette Melk
- Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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A Y, Shi S, Sun S, Jing Y, Li Z, Zhang X, Li X, Wu F. Telomerase activity, relative telomere length, and longevity in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.). PeerJ 2022. [DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Medicago sativa L. ‘Qingshui’ is a valuable rhizomatous forage germplasm resource. We previously crossed Qingshui with the high-yielding Medicago sativa L. ‘WL168’ and obtained novel rhizomatous hybrid strains (RSA-01, RSA-02, and RSA-03). Telomere dynamics are more accurate predictors of survival and mortality than chronological age. Based on telomere analyses, we aimed to identify alfalfa varieties with increased stamina and longevity for the establishment of artificial grazing grasslands.
Methods
In this study, we performed longitudinal analysis of telomerase activity and relative telomere length in five alfalfa varieties (Qingshui, WL168, RSA-01, RSA-02, and RSA-03) at the age of 1 year and 5 years to examine the relationship among telomerase activity, rate of change in relative telomere length, and longevity. We further aimed to evaluate the longevity of the examined varieties. Telomerase activity and relative telomere length were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively.
Results
We observed significant differences in telomerase activity between plants aged 1 year and those aged 5 years in all varieties except WL168, and the rate of change in telomerase activity does not differ reliably with age. As telomerase activity and relative telomere length are complex phenomena, further studies examining the molecular mechanisms of telomere-related proteins are needed. Relative telomere lengths of Qingshui, WL168, RSA-01, RSA-02, and RSA-03 in plants aged 5 years were higher than those aged 1 year by 11.41, 11.24, 9.21, 10.23, and 11.41, respectively. Relative telomere length of alfalfa tended to increase with age. Accordingly, alfalfa varieties can be classified according to rate of change in relative telomere length as long-lived (Qingshui, WL168, and RSA-03), medium-lived (RSA-02) and short-lived (RSA-01). The differences in relative telomere length distances of Qingshui, WL168, RSA-01, RSA-02, and RSA-03 between plants aged 1 and 5 years were 10.40, 13.02, 12.22, 11.22, and 13.25, respectively. The largest difference in relative telomere length was found between Qingshui and RSA-02 at 2.20. Our findings demonstrated that relative telomere length in alfalfa is influenced by genetic variation and age, with age exerting a greater effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun A
- Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shangli Shi
- Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | | | | | - Zili Li
- Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | | | - Xiaolong Li
- Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fang Wu
- Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
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Castro-Diehl C, Smith JA, Zhao W, Wang X, Mukherjee B, Seeman T, Needham BL. Prediction of telomere length and telomere attrition using a genetic risk score: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA). FRONTIERS IN AGING 2022; 3:1021051. [PMID: 36304436 PMCID: PMC9592760 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2022.1021051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: Short telomere length (TL) and telomere attrition (TA) have been associated with age-related diseases. Objective: We assessed whether a genetic risk score for short TL (GRS-TL) combining seven TL-associated genetic variants identified in a European-ancestry genome-wide association study (GWAS) was associated with TL and TA over 10 years. Methods: Relative TL (T/S ratio) was measured by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method for a sample of white, African American, and Hispanic participants, who attended Exam 1 and/or 5 of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Our final sample included 1,227 participants for the TL analysis and 1,138 for the TA analysis. Participants were 45-84 years at Exam 1. We used a linear mixed effects model and adjusted for age, sex, and population structure. Models were stratified by race/ethnicity. Results: In the TL analysis, higher GRS-TL significantly predicted shorter TL (estimates = -0.18 [S.E. = 0.08], p = 0.02 for white; -0.18 [0.07], p < 0.01 for African American; and -0.13 [0.05], p = 0.02 for Hispanic) in fully adjusted models. In the TA analysis, no association between GRS-TL and TA over 10 years was found. Conclusion: Although GRS-TL was developed in European-ancestry populations, it was significantly associated with TL (but not TA) in all three race/ethnic groups examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Castro-Diehl
- Section of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States,*Correspondence: Cecilia Castro-Diehl,
| | - Jennifer A. Smith
- Department of Epidemiology and Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Teresa Seeman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Belinda L. Needham
- Department of Epidemiology and Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Wang C, Alfano R, Reimann B, Hogervorst J, Bustamante M, De Vivo I, Plusquin M, Nawrot TS, Martens DS. Genetic regulation of newborn telomere length is mediated and modified by DNA methylation. Front Genet 2022; 13:934277. [PMID: 36267401 PMCID: PMC9576874 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.934277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length at birth determines later life telomere length and potentially predicts ageing-related diseases. However, the genetic and epigenetic settings of telomere length in newborns have not been analyzed. In addition, no study yet has reported how the interplay between genetic variants and genome-wide cytosine methylation explains the variation in early-life telomere length. In this study based on 281 mother-newborn pairs from the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort, telomere length and whole-genome DNA methylation were assessed in cord blood and 26 candidate single nucleotide polymorphism related to ageing or telomere length were genotyped. We identified three genetic variants associated with cord blood telomere length and 57 cis methylation quantitative trait loci (cis-mQTLs) of which 22 mQTLs confirmed previous findings and 35 were newly identified. Five SNPs were found to have significant indirect effects on cord blood telomere length via the mediating CpGs. The association between rs911874 (SOD2) and newborn telomere length was modified by nearby DNA methylation indicated by a significant statistical interaction. Our results suggest that DNA methylation in cis might have a mediation or modification effect on the genetic difference in newborn telomere length. This novel approach warrants future follow-up studies that are needed to further confirm and extend these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congrong Wang
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Rossella Alfano
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Brigitte Reimann
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Mariona Bustamante
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Program in Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Tim S. Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries S. Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Dries S. Martens,
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De Ruyter T, Martens DS, Bijnens EM, Nawrot TS, De Henauw S, Michels N. A multi-exposure approach to study telomere dynamics in childhood: A role for residential green space and waist circumference. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 213:113656. [PMID: 35691385 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomeres are vulnerable to various environmental exposures and lifestyle factors, encompassed in the exposome. Recent research shows that telomere length is substantially determined early in life and that exposures in childhood may have important consequences in setting later life telomere length. OBJECTIVES We explore in a child population the associations of 17 exposures with telomere length and longitudinal telomere change. METHODS Children (2.8-10.3y at baseline, 51.3% boys) were followed-up for five to seven years. Relative telomere length was measured at baseline and follow-up using quantitative real-time PCR. Exposures and lifestyle factors included: body composition (body mass index and waist circumference), dietary habits (sugar- and fat-rich food intake, vegetables and fruit intake), psychosocial stress (events, emotions, behaviour), sleep duration, physical activity, and residential environmental quality (longterm black carbon, particulate matter exposure, and residential green space). Cross-sectional (n=182) and longitudinal (n=150) analyses were assessed using linear regression models, adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status and multiple testing. RESULTS Our longitudinal analyses showed that higher residential green space at baseline was associated with (β=0.261, p=0.002) lower telomere attrition and that children with a higher waist circumference at baseline showed a higher telomere attrition (β=-0.287, p=0.001). These two predictors were confirmed via LASSO variable selection and correction for multiple testing. In addition, children with more unhealthy exposures at baseline had a significantly higher telomere attrition over the follow-up period compared to children with more healthy exposures (β=-0.200, p=0.017). DISCUSSION Waist circumference and residential green space were identified as predictors associated with telomere attrition in childhood. These results further support the advantages of a healthy lifestyle from early age onwards and the importance of a green environment to promote molecular longevity from childhood onwards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaïs De Ruyter
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.
| | - Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Esmée M Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefaan De Henauw
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Michels
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Song L, Wu M, Wang L, Bi J, Cao Z, Xu S, Tian Y, Xiong C, Wang Y. Ambient ozone exposure during pregnancy and telomere length in newborns: a prospective investigation in Wuhan, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:62662-62668. [PMID: 35411518 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19977-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that environmental exposures, including air pollution, may influence initial (newborn) telomere length (TL), which has important implications for lifetime health. However, the effect of prenatal ozone exposure on newborn TL is unclear. This study aimed to examine the association of ozone exposure during pregnancy with newborn TL. We used data from a birth cohort study of 762 mother-newborn pairs performed in Wuhan, China, during 2013-2015. Land-use regression models were used to assess prenatal ozone exposure. Newborn TL was quantified in cord blood by qPCR assay. We applied multiple informant model to explore the relationship of prenatal ozone exposure with newborn TL. After adjustment for potential confounders, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in ozone exposure during the 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester, and whole pregnancy were associated with 6.00% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.59%, 10.62%), 12.64% (95% CI: 7.52%, 18.00%), and 7.10% (95% CI: 4.09%, 10.20%) longer cord blood TL, respectively. In contrast, an IQR increase in ozone exposure during the 1st trimester was associated with a 8.39% (95% CI: - 12.90%, - 3.65%) shorter cord blood TL. In multipollutant models, consistent associations were observed between ozone exposures during the 2nd trimester and whole pregnancy and cord blood TL, but not significant for the 1st and 3rd trimesters. In conclusion, our findings suggest positive associations of ozone exposure during the 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester, and whole pregnancy with newborn TL and a negative association during the 1st trimester. This study provides new evidence in humans for a potential "programming" mechanism linking maternal ozone exposure to the initial (newborn) setting of offspring's telomere biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mingyang Wu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lulin Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jianing Bi
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhongqiang Cao
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Road No. 100, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shunqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yaohua Tian
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chao Xiong
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Road No. 100, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Youjie Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Wang T, Jia Z, Li S, Li Y, Yu T, Lu T, Shi Y. The association between leukocyte telomere length and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is partially mediated by inflammation: a meta-analysis and population-based mediation study. BMC Pulm Med 2022; 22:320. [PMID: 35987624 PMCID: PMC9392327 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-022-02114-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the major health issues worldwide. Pathophysiological changes in COPD are mainly reflected in the deterioration of lung function with aging. Methods Considering that telomere length is a hallmark of biological aging, we first performed a meta-analysis to summarize the current knowledge about the relationship between telomere length and COPD and then employed individual-level data from the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate whether telomere length could reflect accelerated aging in COPD and serve as an independent predictor. A mediation study was further performed to examine whether the association between telomeres and COPD could be mediated by inflammation, as one of the most important etiologies and characteristics of COPD. Results The four studies included in our meta-analysis were with high heterogeneity (I2 = 95.7%, Phet < 0.001), and the pooled relative risk for COPD comparing the shortest tertile versus the longest tertile was 4.06 (95% CI = 1.38 to 11.96). Of the 6,378 subjects in the individual-level data analyses using NHANES, 455 were diagnosed with COPD, and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression also indicated that short telomere length was associated with COPD. Consistently, cubic regression spline analyses showed that long telomeres exhibited a significant association with a decreased risk of COPD. In the subsequent mediation analyses, C-reactive protein concentration, white blood cells count and blood neutrophil count, as inflammatory biomarkers, showed a significant indirect effect on the relationship between telomere length and COPD. Conclusion Accelerated aging in COPD could be characterized by excessive telomere shortening, and inflammatory response might be involved in the underlying mechanisms of COPD pathogenesis promoted by short telomere length. Telomere length measurement may facilitate clinical translational research and targeted therapy of COPD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-02114-8.
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Seibt K, Ghaffari M, Scheu T, Koch C, Sauerwein H. Effects of different feeding levels during a 14-week preweaning phase in dairy heifer calves on telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number in blood. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:8509-8522. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-21891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Chen SS, Liao XM, Wei QZ, Zhou YY, Su MY, Hu Y, Song YY, Zhang ZQ, Liang JJ. Associations of the Gut Microbiota Composition and Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids with Leukocyte Telomere Length in Children Aged 6 to 9 Years in Guangzhou, China: A Cross-sectional Study. J Nutr 2022; 152:1549-1559. [PMID: 35278080 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxac063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length (TL) serves as a marker of cellular senescence and appears to plateau between the age of 4 y and young adulthood, after which the gut microbiota are supposed to be established. However, scarce data are available regarding the correlation between gut microbiota composition and TL in the pediatric population. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate whether the gut microbiota and the concentrations of SCFAs in feces are associated with leukocyte TL in children. METHODS In total, 401 children aged 6-9 y from Guangzhou were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. qPCR was used to determine relative TL in peripheral blood leukocytes. The gut microbiota was characterized by 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing and the fecal concentrations of total SCFAs and SCFA subtypes were determined using HPLC. The multivariate methods with an unbiased variable selection (MUVR) algorithm and partial least square models were used to select predictable operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Further correlation analyses were performed based on multiple linear regression models with adjustment for covariates and false discovery rate. RESULTS With the use of MUVR, 35 relevant and minimal optimal OTUs were finally selected. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the abundance of several OTUs, including OTU334 (belonging to the genus Family XIII AD3011 group), OTU726 (belonging to the species Lachnoclostridium phocaeense), OTU1441 (belonging to the genus Ruminococcus torques group), OTU2553 (belonging to the genus Lachnospiraceae UCG-010), and OTU3375 (belonging to the family Lachnospiraceae), was negatively associated with leukocyte TL (β: -0.187 to -0.142; false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected P value (PFDR) = 0.009-0.035]. However, neither SCFA subtype nor total SCFA content in feces exhibited significant associations with TL (β: -0.032 to 0.048; PFDR = 0.915-0.969). CONCLUSIONS The gut microbiota, but not fecal SCFA concentration, was significantly associated with TL in this pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Chen
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xue-Mei Liao
- Food Safety and Health Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qin-Zhi Wei
- Food Safety and Health Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying-Yu Zhou
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng-Yang Su
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Hu
- Department of Child Health Care, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan-Yan Song
- Department of Child Health Care, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhe-Qing Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Jing Liang
- Department of Child Health Care, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Mitchell E, Spencer Chapman M, Williams N, Dawson KJ, Mende N, Calderbank EF, Jung H, Mitchell T, Coorens THH, Spencer DH, Machado H, Lee-Six H, Davies M, Hayler D, Fabre MA, Mahbubani K, Abascal F, Cagan A, Vassiliou GS, Baxter J, Martincorena I, Stratton MR, Kent DG, Chatterjee K, Parsy KS, Green AR, Nangalia J, Laurenti E, Campbell PJ. Clonal dynamics of haematopoiesis across the human lifespan. Nature 2022; 606:343-350. [PMID: 35650442 PMCID: PMC9177428 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04786-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Age-related change in human haematopoiesis causes reduced regenerative capacity1, cytopenias2, immune dysfunction3 and increased risk of blood cancer4-6, but the reason for such abrupt functional decline after 70 years of age remains unclear. Here we sequenced 3,579 genomes from single cell-derived colonies of haematopoietic cells across 10 human subjects from 0 to 81 years of age. Haematopoietic stem cells or multipotent progenitors (HSC/MPPs) accumulated a mean of 17 mutations per year after birth and lost 30 base pairs per year of telomere length. Haematopoiesis in adults less than 65 years of age was massively polyclonal, with high clonal diversity and a stable population of 20,000-200,000 HSC/MPPs contributing evenly to blood production. By contrast, haematopoiesis in individuals aged over 75 showed profoundly decreased clonal diversity. In each of the older subjects, 30-60% of haematopoiesis was accounted for by 12-18 independent clones, each contributing 1-34% of blood production. Most clones had begun their expansion before the subject was 40 years old, but only 22% had known driver mutations. Genome-wide selection analysis estimated that between 1 in 34 and 1 in 12 non-synonymous mutations were drivers, accruing at constant rates throughout life, affecting more genes than identified in blood cancers. Loss of the Y chromosome conferred selective benefits in males. Simulations of haematopoiesis, with constant stem cell population size and constant acquisition of driver mutations conferring moderate fitness benefits, entirely explained the abrupt change in clonal structure in the elderly. Rapidly decreasing clonal diversity is a universal feature of haematopoiesis in aged humans, underpinned by pervasive positive selection acting on many more genes than currently identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Mitchell
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Nicole Mende
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emily F Calderbank
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - David H Spencer
- Department of Medicine, McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University, St Louis, MO, USA
| | | | | | - Megan Davies
- Cambridge Molecular Diagnostics, Milton Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Daniel Hayler
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Margarete A Fabre
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Krishnaa Mahbubani
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge Biorepository for Translational Medicine, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - George S Vassiliou
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Joanna Baxter
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - David G Kent
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Krishna Chatterjee
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kourosh Saeb Parsy
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge Biorepository for Translational Medicine, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anthony R Green
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jyoti Nangalia
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Elisa Laurenti
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Peter J Campbell
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
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Pham C, Vryer R, O’Hely M, Mansell T, Burgner D, Collier F, Symeonides C, Tang MLK, Vuillermin P, Gray L, Saffery R, Ponsonby AL. Shortened Infant Telomere Length Is Associated with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children at Age Two Years: A Birth Cohort Study. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094601. [PMID: 35562991 PMCID: PMC9104809 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors can accelerate telomere length (TL) attrition. Shortened TL is linked to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in school-aged children. The onset of ADHD occurs as early as preschool-age, but the TL-ADHD association in younger children is unknown. We investigated associations between infant TL and ADHD symptoms in children and assessed environmental factors as potential confounders and/or mediators of this association. Relative TL was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in cord and 12-month blood in the birth cohort study, the Barwon Infant Study. Early life environmental factors collected antenatally to two years were used to measure confounding. ADHD symptoms at age two years were evaluated by the Child Behavior Checklist Attention Problems (AP) and the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems (ADHP). Associations between early life environmental factors on TL or ADHD symptoms were assessed using multivariable regression models adjusted for relevant factors. Telomere length at 12 months (TL12), but not at birth, was inversely associated with AP (β = −0.56; 95% CI (−1.13, 0.006); p = 0.05) and ADHP (β = −0.66; 95% CI (−1.11, −0.21); p = 0.004). Infant secondhand smoke exposure at one month was independently associated with shorter TL12 and also higher ADHD symptoms. Further work is needed to elucidate the mechanisms that influence TL attrition and early neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Pham
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
| | - Regan Vryer
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Martin O’Hely
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Toby Mansell
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - David Burgner
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Fiona Collier
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Christos Symeonides
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Mimi L. K. Tang
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Peter Vuillermin
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Lawrence Gray
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Anne-Louise Ponsonby
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.P.); (R.V.); (M.O.); (T.M.); (D.B.); (C.S.); (M.L.K.T.); (P.V.); (R.S.)
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (F.C.); (L.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Raftopoulou C, Paltoglou G, Charmandari E. Association between Telomere Length and Pediatric Obesity: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14061244. [PMID: 35334902 PMCID: PMC8949519 DOI: 10.3390/nu14061244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Telomere length (TL) is a robust marker of biological aging, and increased telomere attrition is noted in adults with obesity. The primary objective of this systematic review was to summarize current knowledge on the effects of childhood obesity in TL. The secondary objective was to assess the effect of weight management interventions in TL. Methods: The following databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Heal-link.gr from inception to September 2021. The search was performed using the following combinations of terms: “telomer*” [All Fields] AND (“length” [All Fields] OR “lengths” [All Fields]) AND “obes*” [All Fields] AND (“child*” [All Fields] OR “adolescen*” [All Fields]). Results: A total of 16 original articles were included in this systematic review. Eleven of them were cross-sectional and five were lifestyle interventions. Conclusions: There was a tendency towards a negative association between childhood obesity and TL. Life-style interventions in children have been associated with increased TL peripherally, indicating a possible association of the redistribution of younger cells in the periphery with the favorable effect of these interventions. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes that employ other markers of cell aging would potentially elucidate this important mechanistic relation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Raftopoulou
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - George Paltoglou
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Evangelia Charmandari
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece;
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +30-213-2013-384
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36
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Hastings WJ, Etzel L, Heim CM, Noll JG, Rose EJ, Schreier HMC, Shenk CE, Tang X, Shalev I. Comparing qPCR and DNA methylation-based measurements of telomere length in a high-risk pediatric cohort. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:660-677. [PMID: 35077392 PMCID: PMC8833135 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Various approaches exist to assess population differences in biological aging. Telomere length (TL) is one such measure, and is associated with disease, disability and early mortality. Yet, issues surrounding precision and reproducibility are a concern for TL measurement. An alternative method to estimate TL using DNA methylation (DNAmTL) was recently developed. Although DNAmTL has been characterized in adult and elderly cohorts, its utility in pediatric populations remains unknown. We examined the comparability of leukocyte TL measurements generated using qPCR (absolute TL; aTL) to those estimated using DNAmTL in a high-risk pediatric cohort (N = 269; age: 8–13 years, 83% investigated for maltreatment). aTL and DNAmTL measurements were correlated with one another (r = 0.20, p = 0.001), but exhibited poor measurement agreement and were significantly different in paired-sample t-tests (Cohen’s d = 0.77, p < 0.001). Shorter DNAmTL was associated with older age (r = −0.25, p < 0.001), male sex (β = −0.27, p = 0.029), and White race (β = −0.74, p = 0.008). By contrast, aTL was less strongly associated with age (r = −0.13, p = 0.040), was longer in males (β = 0.31, p = 0.012), and was not associated with race (p = 0.820). These findings highlight strengths and limitations of high-throughput measures of TL; although DNAmTL replicated hypothesized associations, aTL measurements were positively skewed and did not replicate associations with external validity measures. These results also extend previous research in adults and suggest that DNAmTL is a sensitive TL measure for use in pediatric populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waylon J Hastings
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Laura Etzel
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Christine M Heim
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jennie G Noll
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Emma J Rose
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,The Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Hannah M C Schreier
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Chad E Shenk
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Xin Tang
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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37
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Utility of Telomerase Gene Mutation Testing in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in Routine Practice. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030372. [PMID: 35159182 PMCID: PMC8834025 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested that causative variants in telomerase complex genes (TCGs) are present in around 10% of individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) regardless of family history of the disease. However, the studies used a case-control rare variant enrichment study design which is not directly translatable to routine practice. To validate the prevalence results and to establish the individual level, routine clinical practice, and utility of those results we performed next generation sequencing of TCGs on a cohort of well-characterized consecutive individuals with IPF (diagnosis established according to ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT guidelines). Of 27 IPF patients, three had a family history of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (familial IPF) and 24 did not (sporadic IPF). Pathogenic/likely-pathogenic variants (according to American College of Medical Genetics criteria) in TCG were found in three individuals (11.1%) of the whole cohort; specifically, they were present in 2 out of 24 (8.3%) of the sporadic and in 1 out of 3 (33.3%) of the patients with familial IPF. Our results, which were established on an individual-patient level study design and in routine clinical practice (as opposed to the case-control study design), are roughly in line with the around 10% prevalence of causative TCG variants in patients with IPF.
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38
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Stout-Oswald SA, Glynn LM, Bisoffi M, Demers CH, Davis EP. Prenatal exposure to maternal psychological distress and telomere length in childhood. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22238. [PMID: 35050506 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is a biological marker of cellular aging, and shorter TL in adulthood is associated with increased morbidity and mortality risk. It is likely that these differences in TL are established long before adulthood, and there is growing evidence that TL can reflect prenatal experiences. Although maternal prenatal distress predicts newborn TL, it is unknown whether the relation between prenatal exposure to maternal distress and child TL persists through childhood. The purpose of the current longitudinal, prospective study is to examine the relation between prenatal exposure to maternal distress (perceived stress, depressive symptoms, pregnancy-related anxiety) and TL in childhood. Participants included 102 children (54 girls) and their mothers. Mothers' distress was assessed five times during pregnancy, at 12 weeks postpartum, and at the time of child telomere measurement between 6 and 16 years of age. Maternal distress during pregnancy predicted shorter offspring TL in childhood, even after accounting for postnatal exposure to maternal distress and other covariates. These findings indicate that maternal mental health predicts offspring TL biology later in childhood than previously observed. This study bolsters claims that telomere biology is subject to fetal programming and highlights the importance of supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura M Glynn
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
| | - Marco Bisoffi
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
- School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
| | - Catherine H Demers
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
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39
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Telomeres and Cancer. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121405. [PMID: 34947936 PMCID: PMC8704776 DOI: 10.3390/life11121405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres cap the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and are indispensable chromatin structures for genome protection and replication. Telomere length maintenance has been attributed to several functional modulators, including telomerase, the shelterin complex, and the CST complex, synergizing with DNA replication, repair, and the RNA metabolism pathway components. As dysfunctional telomere maintenance and telomerase activation are associated with several human diseases, including cancer, the molecular mechanisms behind telomere length regulation and protection need particular emphasis. Cancer cells exhibit telomerase activation, enabling replicative immortality. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) activation is involved in cancer development through diverse activities other than mediating telomere elongation. This review describes the telomere functions, the role of functional modulators, the implications in cancer development, and the future therapeutic opportunities.
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Womersley JS, Xulu KR, Sommer J, Hinsberger M, Kidd M, Elbert T, Weierstall R, Kaminer D, Malan-Müller S, Seedat S, M J Hemmings S. Associations between telomere length and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and appetitive aggression in trauma-exposed men. Neurosci Lett 2021; 769:136388. [PMID: 34890718 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to community violence is common in South Africa and negatively impacts on biopsychosocial health. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterised by symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, hypervigilance and negative alterations in cognition and mood, and can develop consequent to trauma exposure. Individuals who repeatedly experience and witness violence may also come to view it as appealing and rewarding. This appetitive aggression (AA) increases the likelihood of perpetrating violence. Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences that protect the ends of chromosomes. Telomere length (TL) attrition is a stress-sensitive marker of biological aging that has been associated with a range of psychiatric disorders. This study investigated the cross-sectional relationship between TL and symptoms of PTSD and AA in South African men residing in areas with high community violence. PTSD and AA symptom severity was assessed in 290 men using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale - Interview (PSS-I) and Appetitive Aggression Scale (AAS), respectively. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed on DNA extracted from saliva and used to calculate relative TL (rTL). Regression models were used to assess the relationships between rTL and PSS-I and AAS scores. Network analyses using EBIC glasso methods were performed using rTL and items from each of the AAS and PSS-I measures. Both PSS-I (p = 0.023) and AAS (p = 0.016) scores were positively associated with rTL. Network analyses indicated that rTL was weakly related to two PSS-I and five AAS items but performed poorly on indicators of centrality and was not strongly associated with measure items either directly or indirectly. The positive association between rTL and measures of AA and PTSD may be due to the induction of protective homeostatic mechanisms, which reduce TL attrition, following early life trauma exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline S Womersley
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council / Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Khethelo R Xulu
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Jessica Sommer
- Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
| | | | - Martin Kidd
- Centre for Statistical Consultation, Department of Statistics & Actuarial Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Thomas Elbert
- Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Roland Weierstall
- Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany; Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; Oberberg Clinics, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Debbie Kaminer
- Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Stefanie Malan-Müller
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council / Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Sian M J Hemmings
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council / Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
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41
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Roubinov D, Meaney MJ, Boyce WT. Change of pace: How developmental tempo varies to accommodate failed provision of early needs. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:120-134. [PMID: 34547365 PMCID: PMC8648258 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The interplay of genes and environments (GxE) is a fundamental source of variation in behavioral and developmental outcomes. Although the role of developmental time (T) in the unfolding of such interactions has yet to be fully considered, GxE operates within a temporal frame of reference across multiple timescales and degrees of biological complexity. Here, we consider GxExT interactions to understand adversity-induced developmental acceleration or deceleration whereby environmental conditions hasten or hinder children's development. To date, developmental pace changes have been largely explained through a focus on the individual: for example, how adversity "wears down" aging biological systems or how adversity accelerates or decelerates maturation to optimize reproductive fitness. We broaden such theories by positing shifts in developmental pace in response to the parent-child dyad's capacity or incapacity for meeting children's early, physiological and safety needs. We describe empirical evidence and potential neurobiological mechanisms supporting this new conceptualization of developmental acceleration and deceleration. We conclude with suggestions for future research on the developmental consequences of early adverse exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Roubinov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Department of Psychiatry and Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3H 1R4, Canada; Child and Brain Development Program, CIFAR, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A ⁎STAR), 117609, Singapore; Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228, Singapore
| | - W Thomas Boyce
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Child and Brain Development Program, CIFAR, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, United States
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Thorin E, Thorin-Trescases N. The quest for a biomarker of premature biological aging. Can J Cardiol 2021; 38:303-305. [PMID: 34861379 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2021.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Thorin
- Université de Montréal, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Bertucci EM, Mason MW, Rhodes OE, Parrott BB. Exposure to ionizing radiation disrupts normal epigenetic aging in Japanese medaka. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:22752-22771. [PMID: 34644261 PMCID: PMC8544305 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alterations to the epigenome are a hallmark of biological aging and age-dependent patterning of the DNA methylome ("epigenetic aging") can be modeled to produce epigenetic age predictors. Rates of epigenetic aging vary amongst individuals and correlate to the onset of age-related disease and all-cause mortality. Yet, the origins of epigenetic-to-chronological age discordance are not empirically resolved. Here, we investigate the relationship between aging, DNA methylation, and environmental exposures in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). We find age-associated DNA methylation patterning enriched in genomic regions of low CpG density and that, similar to mammals, most age-related changes occur during early life. We construct an epigenetic clock capable of predicting chronological age with a mean error of 61.1 days (~8.4% of average lifespan). To test the role of environmental factors in driving epigenetic age variation, we exposed medaka to chronic, environmentally relevant doses of ionizing radiation. Because most organisms share an evolutionary history with ionizing radiation, we hypothesized that exposure would reveal fundamental insights into environment-by-epigenetic aging interactions. Radiation exposure disrupted epigenetic aging by accelerating and decelerating normal age-associated patterning and was most pronounced in cytosines that were moderately associated with age. These findings empirically demonstrate the role of DNA methylation in integrating environmental factors into aging trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M. Bertucci
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Marilyn W. Mason
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Olin E. Rhodes
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Benjamin B. Parrott
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
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Influence of Maternal Infection and Pregnancy Complications on Cord Blood Telomere Length. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:3339456. [PMID: 34616503 PMCID: PMC8487834 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3339456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Exposure to suboptimal intrauterine environment might induce structural and functional changes that can affect neonatal health. Telomere length as an important indicator of cellular health has been associated with increased risk for disease development. Objectives This study was aimed to examine the independent and combined effects of maternal, obstetric, and foetal factors on cord blood telomere length (TL). Methods Pregnant women at the gestational age of 20th to 24th week who attended the antenatal clinic of a major local hospital in Hong Kong were recruited. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on demographics, health-related quality of life, and history of risk behaviors. Medical history including pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes was obtained from electronic medical records of both mother and neonate. Umbilical cord blood was collected at delivery for TL determination. Results A total of 753 pregnant women (average age: 32.18 ± 4.51 years) were recruited. The prevalence of maternal infection, anaemia, and hypertension during pregnancy was 30.8%, 30.0%, and 6.0%, respectively. The adjusted regression model displayed that maternal infection was negatively associated with cord blood TL (β = -0.18, p = 0.026). This association became even stronger in the presence of antenatal anaemia, hypertension, delivery complications, or neonatal jaundice (β = -0.25 to -0.45). Conclusions This study consolidates evidence on the impact of adverse intrauterine environment at the cellular level. Maternal infection was significantly associated with shorter cord blood TL in a unique manner such that its presence may critically determine the susceptibility of telomere to other factors.
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Womersley JS, Spies G, Tromp G, Seedat S, Hemmings SMJ. Longitudinal telomere length profile does not reflect HIV and childhood trauma impacts on cognitive function in South African women. J Neurovirol 2021; 27:735-749. [PMID: 34448146 PMCID: PMC8602727 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-021-01009-4] [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] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) present a challenge in South Africa where the burden of HIV infection is the highest. Identification of biological correlates of HAND is required to improve diagnosis and inform interventions. Telomeres maintain genomic integrity and their shortening is a marker of biological aging sensitive to environmental influences. This study examined relative telomere length (rTL) as a predictor of cognitive function in the context of HIV and childhood trauma (CT), a risk factor for HAND. Two hundred and eighty-six women completed a neurocognitive assessment battery and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction for amplification of telomeric repeats and the reference gene human beta-globin was used to calculate rTL. Neurocognitive and rTL assessments were repeated at 1 year in 110 participants. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data were assessed using linear and mixed models, respectively. Participants with HIV (n = 135 in cross-sectional and n = 62 in longitudinal study groups) reported more severe CT and had shorter baseline rTL compared to seronegative controls. Participants without HIV had a greater 1-year decline in rTL. Global cognitive and attention/working memory scores declined in participants with HIV. Our data indicate that baseline rTL in the context of CT and HIV did not predict decline in cognitive scores. HIV-associated pathophysiological processes driving cognitive decline may also engage mechanisms that protect against telomere shortening. The results highlight the importance of examining biological correlates in longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Samantha Womersley
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Georgina Spies
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gerard Tromp
- Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Bioinformatics Unit, South African Tuberculosis Bioinformatics Initiative, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sian Megan Joanna Hemmings
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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Simpson DJ, Olova NN, Chandra T. Cellular reprogramming and epigenetic rejuvenation. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:170. [PMID: 34488874 PMCID: PMC8419998 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01158-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Ageing is an inevitable condition that afflicts all humans. Recent achievements, such as the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells, have delivered preliminary evidence that slowing down and reversing the ageing process might be possible. However, these techniques usually involve complete dedifferentiation, i.e. somatic cell identity is lost as cells are converted to a pluripotent state. Separating the rejuvenative properties of reprogramming from dedifferentiation is a promising prospect, termed epigenetic rejuvenation. Reprogramming-induced rejuvenation strategies currently involve using Yamanaka factors (typically transiently expressed to prevent full dedifferentiation) and are promising candidates to safely reduce biological age. Here, we review the development and potential of reprogramming-induced rejuvenation as an anti-ageing strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Simpson
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - Nelly N Olova
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - Tamir Chandra
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
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Simpson DJ, Chandra T. Epigenetic age prediction. Aging Cell 2021; 20:e13452. [PMID: 34415665 PMCID: PMC8441394 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced age is the main common risk factor for cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration. Yet, more is known about the molecular basis of any of these groups of diseases than the changes that accompany ageing itself. Progress in molecular ageing research was slow because the tools predicting whether someone aged slowly or fast (biological age) were unreliable. To understand ageing as a risk factor for disease and to develop interventions, the molecular ageing field needed a quantitative measure; a clock for biological age. Over the past decade, a number of age predictors utilising DNA methylation have been developed, referred to as epigenetic clocks. While they appear to estimate biological age, it remains unclear whether the methylation changes used to train the clocks are a reflection of other underlying cellular or molecular processes, or whether methylation itself is involved in the ageing process. The precise aspects of ageing that the epigenetic clocks capture remain hidden and seem to vary between predictors. Nonetheless, the use of epigenetic clocks has opened the door towards studying biological ageing quantitatively, and new clocks and applications, such as forensics, appear frequently. In this review, we will discuss the range of epigenetic clocks available, their strengths and weaknesses, and their applicability to various scientific queries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Simpson
- MRC Human Genetics UnitMRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Tamir Chandra
- MRC Human Genetics UnitMRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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Niu Z, Wen X, Buka SL, Wang M, Tian L, Loucks EB, Kubzansky LD, Mu L. Associations of telomere length at birth with predicted atherosclerotic lesions and cardiovascular disease risk factors in midlife: A 40-year longitudinal study. Atherosclerosis 2021; 333:67-74. [PMID: 34428605 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Adult telomere length (TL) is substantially determined by birth TL, but associations of birth TL with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are unknown. METHODS We included 144 adult offspring born in 1959-1966 from the Collaborative Perinatal Project, a US birth cohort. Birth TL was measured from banked cord blood with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Atherosclerotic lesions were predicted by the Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) score that was based on blood pressure, lipids, hemoglobin A1c, and body weight at the midlife follow-up in 2003-2008 (average age: 42 years). Information on midlife CVD risk factors including the age at first diagnoses of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes was also collected. We used linear and logistic regression models to analyze associations of birth TL with the continuous PDAY score and categorical CVD risk factors, respectively, adjusting for prenatal confounders. RESULTS At midlife follow-up, 31.2% and 18.7% of participants had ever been diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, respectively, and 8.3% met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. Short birth TL (Quartile 1, Q1) was associated with a higher PDAY score (adjusted β: 1.78, 95% CI: 0.31, 3.25), increased odds of hypercholesterolemia (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.28, 8.18) and the presence of any cardiometabolic abnormalities (adjusted OR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.00, 6.48) as compared to longer birth TL (Q2-Q4) after adjusting for prenatal confounders. CONCLUSIONS People born with short TL may be at increased risk of predicted midlife atherosclerotic lesions and hypercholesterolemia. Future studies with larger sample sizes and CVD morbidities are warranted to replicate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongzheng Niu
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Xiaozhong Wen
- Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Stephen L Buka
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; RENEW Institute, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lili Tian
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Health Professions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Eric B Loucks
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Laura D Kubzansky
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lina Mu
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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Geronimus AT, Bound J, Mitchell C, Martinez-Cardoso A, Evans L, Hughes L, Schneper L, Notterman DA. Coming up short: Comparing venous blood, dried blood spots & saliva samples for measuring telomere length in health equity research. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255237. [PMID: 34407110 PMCID: PMC8372921 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length (TL) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from fresh venous blood is increasingly used to estimate molecular impacts of accumulated social adversity on population health. Sometimes, TL extracted from saliva or dried blood spots (DBS) are substituted as less invasive and more scalable specimen collection methods; yet, are they interchangeable with fresh blood? Studies find TL is correlated across tissues, but have not addressed the critical question for social epidemiological applications: Do different specimen types show the same association between TL and social constructs? METHODS We integrate expertise in social epidemiology, molecular biology, and the statistical impact of measurement error on parameter estimates. Recruiting a diverse sample of 132 Metro-Detroit women, we measure TL for each woman from fresh blood PBMC, DBS, and saliva. Using regression methods, we estimate associations between social characteristics and TL, comparing estimates across specimen types for each woman. RESULTS Associations between TL and social characteristics vary by specimen type collected from the same woman, sometimes qualitatively altering estimates of the magnitude or direction of a theorized relationship. Being Black is associated with shorter TL in PBMC, but longer TL in saliva or DBS. Education is positively associated with TL in fresh blood, but negatively associated with TL using DBS. CONCLUSION Findings raise concerns about the use of TL measures derived from different tissues in social epidemiological research. Investigators need to consider the possibility that associations between social variables and TL may be systematically related to specimen type, rather than be valid indicators of socially-patterned biopsychosocial processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arline T. Geronimus
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - John Bound
- Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Economics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Aresha Martinez-Cardoso
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Linnea Evans
- Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Landon Hughes
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Lisa Schneper
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Daniel A. Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
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Shorter Leukocyte Telomere Length Is Associated with Worse Survival of Patients with Bladder Cancer and Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13153774. [PMID: 34359672 PMCID: PMC8345040 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Intrinsic telomere shortening promotes tumorigenesis in cells with impaired DNA damage repair mechanisms, as dysfunctional telomeres lead to chromosomal instability. More recent data show that the telomere length of peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) cells can be a prognostic marker for survival of patients with solid tumors. However, reports on bladder cancer (BC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are not consistent and partly contradictory. Our results show, first, that telomere length is shorter in patients with BC or RCC compared to patients without malignant disease. More importantly, the relative telomere length (RTL) of PBL cells is associated with survival of patients with BC and RCC. Thus, telomere length in PBL cells could be an auxiliary prognostic marker in BC and RCC. Abstract Background: Telomeres are protein–DNA complexes at the tips of linear chromosomes. They protect the DNA from end-to-end fusion and exonucleolytic degradation. Shortening of telomeric DNA during aging can generate dysfunctional telomeres, promoting tumorigenesis. More recent data indicate that both short and long telomeres of peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) cells can serve as prognostic biomarkers for cancer risk and may be associated with survival of patients with solid cancers. Telomere length in PBL cells could also be a potential prognostic biomarker for survival in bladder cancer (BC) or renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods: The relative telomere length (RTL) of PBL cells was assessed in patients with BC (n = 144) and RCC (n = 144) by using qPCR. A control population of patients without malignant disease (NC, n = 73) was included for comparison. The correlation and association of RTL with histopathological parameters and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Results: Patients with BC and RCC had significantly shorter telomeres compared to patients without malignant disease. Within the cancer cohorts, multivariate analysis revealed that short RTL is an independent predictor of worse survival in BC (p = 0.039) and RCC (p = 0.041). Conclusion: Patients with BC and RCC had significantly shorter telomeres compared to the normal population. Shorter RTL in BC and RCC was an independent predictor of reduced survival.
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