Objective: Leukocyte telomere length is representative of biological aging and is associated with clinical coronary artery disease but its association with coronary atherosclerosis is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the association of telomere length with coronary artery calcification in middle aged adults.
Methods: Leukocyte telomere length was measured with a quantitative PCR-based technique and coronary artery calcification (CAC) scoring was performed on a dual-source CT scanner in a sample of 325 adults aged 40-64 years old free of previously diagnosed diabetes, CHD, stroke and cancer. We used logistic regression to determine the association of presence of CAC (Agatston score >0 versus 0) with telomere length adjusted for age, gender, race and metabolic syndrome. Finally, we examined the relation of telomere length to extensiveness of CAC.
Results: The unadjusted odds ratio of having CAC for the shortest tertile of telomere length versus the longest was 3.39 (95% CI 1.85-6.20). After adjustment for age, race, gender and metabolic syndrome the odds decreased but remained significant (OR 2.36; 95% CI 1.23-4.52). Mean telomere length was significantly shorter with more extensive coronary calcification. The correlation between telomere length and chronological age was r=-0.19 (p<.001) while the correlation between telomere length and arterial age was r=-0.22 (p<.001).
Conclusions: In conclusion, telomere length is negatively associated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis in a low risk cohort free of previously diagnosed CVD.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2009.10.047 | DOI Listing |
Biol Lett
January 2025
Cluster of Biomolecular Science, Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Dealing with infections is a daily challenge for wild animals. Empirical data show an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during immune response. This could have consequences on telomere length, the end parts of linear chromosomes, commonly used as proxy for good health and ageing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiscov Oncol
January 2025
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
Aging is an inevitable physiological process in organisms, and the development of tumors is closely associated with cellular senescence. This article initially examines the role of cellular senescence in tumorigenesis, emphasizing the correlation between telomere length-a marker of cellular senescence-and tumor risk. Concurrently, the study explores the expression levels of senescence-associated markers, such as p16, p53, and mTOR, in the context of tumor development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArthritis Rheumatol
January 2025
Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Objective: A pathogenetic role of CD8+ T lymphocytes in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) and other spondyloarthritis (SpA) is sustained by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and by the expansion of public T cell clonotypes in the target tissues. This study investigates the migration of CD8+ T cells, along with their phenotype and functions in patients with r-axSpA and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Methods: Peripheral blood CD8+ and CD4+ T cells were isolated from r-axSpA (n= 128), PsA (n= 60) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n= 74) patients and healthy donors (HD, n= 79).
Circ Res
January 2025
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, PA. (R.A.C., C.C.C., R.W., A.C., C.B., C.R., W.J.M., M.J. Bashline, A.P., A.M.P., P.B., M.J. Brown, C.S.H.).
Background: Calcific aortic valve disease is the pathological remodeling of valve leaflets. The initial steps in valve leaflet osteogenic reprogramming are not fully understood. As TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) overexpression primes mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts, we investigated whether TERT contributes to the osteogenic reprogramming of valve interstitial cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Cardiovasc Med
January 2025
Department of Oncology, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Background: The relationship between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and telomere length (TL) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate their association in a nationally representative US population.
Methods: Data from 6,342 adults aged ≥20 were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002.
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