Journal Article

Telomere Length Trajectory and Its Determinants in Persons with Coronary Artery Disease: Longitudinal Findings from the Heart and Soul Study

Epel, Elissa, Whooley, Mary A., Lapham, Kyle, Lin, Jue, Blackburn, Elizabeth, Farzaneh-Far, Ramin

2010

Overview

Leukocyte telomere length, an emerging marker of biological age, has been shown to predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the natural history of telomere length in patients with coronary artery disease has not been studied. We sought to investigate the longitudinal trajectory of telomere length, and to identify the independent predictors of telomere shortening, in persons with coronary artery disease. In a prospective cohort study of 608 individuals with stable coronary artery disease, we measured leukocyte telomere length at baseline, and again after five years of follow-up. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression models to identify the independent predictors of leukocyte telomere trajectory. Baseline and follow-up telomere lengths were normally distributed. Mean telomere length decreased by 42 base pairs per year (p<0.001). Three distinct telomere trajectories were observed: shortening in 45%, maintenance in 32%, and lengthening in 23% of participants. The most powerful predictor of telomere shortening was baseline telomere length (OR per SD increase = 7.6; 95% CI 5.5, 10.6). Other independent predictors of telomere shortening were age (OR per 10 years = 1.6; 95% CI 1.3, 2.1), male sex (OR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.3, 4.7), and waist-to-hip ratio (OR per 0.1 increase = 1.4; 95% CI 1.0, 2.0). Leukocyte telomere length may increase as well as decrease in persons with coronary artery disease. Telomere length trajectory is powerfully influenced by baseline telomere length, possibly suggesting negative feedback regulation. Age, male sex, and abdominal obesity independently predict telomere shortening. The mechanisms and reversibility of telomeric aging in cardiovascular disease deserve further study.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Age / Aging / Aging (natural) / Base pairs / Base Sequence / Biochemistry / Biophysics / Cardiovascular disease / Cardiovascular diseases / Cardiovascular Disorders/Coronary Artery Disease / Cardiovascular Disorders/Geriatric Cardiology / Cell division / Chromosomes / Cohort Studies / Coronary artery / Coronary artery disease / Coronary Artery Disease - genetics / Coronary heart disease / Coronary vessels / Deoxyribonucleic acid / DNA / DNA polymerase / DNA Primers / Genetic testing / Geriatrics/Geriatric Cardiology / Health aspects / Health risk assessment / Heart / Heart attacks / Heart diseases / Hip / Human subjects / Humans / Hypertension / Longitudinal Studies / Medical research / Morbidity / Mortality / Multivariate Analysis / Negative feedback / Obesity / Oxidative stress / Population / Prognosis / Public Health and Epidemiology/Epidemiology / R&D / Regression analysis / Regression models / Research & development / Senescence / Sex / Studies / Telomerase / Telomere / Telomeres / Trajectories / Trends