Association of Genetic Polymorphisms of TERT with Telomere Length in Coke Oven Emissions-Exposed Workers.

We explored the association between variations in the telomere maintenance genes and change in telomere length (TL) in workers. The TL of peripheral blood leukocytes from 544 coke oven workers and 238 controls were detected using the Real-time PCR method. Variations in four genes were then detected using the PCR based restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Effect of 1 rs3863242 polymorphism on telomere length in omethoate-exposed workers.

Telomere length was found to be associated with omethoate exposure and polymorphisms in certain genes among occupational workers. However, whether the polymorphisms in telomere-binding protein genes influence telomere length remains unclear. To explore the correlation between telomere length and polymorphisms in telomere-binding protein genes, telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 180 omethoate-exposed workers and 115 healthy controls.

Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and miRNA variations on peripheral blood leukocyte DNA telomere length: A cross-sectional study in Henan Province, China.

Telomeres play a major role in human aging and disease, especially in most cancers. Telomere length was shortened in workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and influenced by individual genetic variations in telomere-binding proteins. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can affect the progress of messenger RNA (mRNA) transcription; however, whether polymorphisms in miRNA can act on the telomere length is still unknown.