Dei Cas A, Spigoni V, Franzini L, Preti M, Ardigò D, Derlindati E, Metra M, Monti LD, Dell'Era P, Gnudi L, Zavaroni I. Lower endothelial progenitor cell number, family history of cardiovascular disease and reduced HDL-cholesterol levels are associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length in healthy young adults.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2013;
23:272-278. [PMID:
21824757 DOI:
10.1016/j.numecd.2011.04.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2010] [Revised: 04/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/12/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a novel marker of cardiovascular (CV) risk. The aim of the study was to investigate the major determinants of LTL in a healthy young population at very low CV risk.
METHODS AND RESULTS
LTL was determined in 82 healthy subjects (49M/33F; age37 ± 9yrs), normotensive and not taking any medication with different family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (24yes/58no). Fasting blood samples were drawn in all subjects for the determination of lipid profile, high sensitive C-reactive protein, uric acid, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), LTL and Endothelial Progenitor Cell (EPC) number. LTL was assessed with a specific real-time PCR reaction in leukocyte DNA samples. LTL resulted inversely correlated with family history of CVD (t = 2.70; p = 0.009), age (r = -0.238; p = 0.032), waist circumference (r = -0.256; p = 0.02), triglycerides (r = -0.218; p = 0.049), PAI-1 (r = -0.288; p = 0.009) and directly correlated with HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.316; p = 0.004) and EPC number (r = 0.358; p = 0.002). At a multivariate analysis, family history of CVD (p = 0.013), EPC count (p = 0.003), and HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.017) were independently associated with LTL (r = 0.62).
CONCLUSION
LTL is independently associated to CV risk factors also in healthy young adults.
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