Association Between Telomere Shortening and Ageing During Occupational Exposure

Abstract

Summary: Telomere length is considered as a biomarker of ageing, resulting in shortening during the process. The present investigation was an attempt to determine the relative telomere length in mechanical workshop workers. Telomere length shortening in cells during occupational expo sure causes accelerated ageing. Genomic DNA was isolated from buccal epithelial cells collected from 240 individuals, comprising two groups of 120 exposed workers and 120 unexposed controls. Telomere length was measured by using real time PCR. Both telomere (T) and single copy gene (S) specific primers were used to compute the relative T/S ratio and expressed as the relative telomere length. Telomere length differed significantly between the workers and controls (p<0.05). The results showed an indirect and significant association (r=-0.356, p=0.001) between age and telomere length in the workers. This study showed that the difference in telomere length shortening was statistically significant (p<0.05) between the workers and controls. It was concluded that occupational exposure acts as a risk factor to enhance telomere length shortening and accelerate ageing.Keywords: telomere, 36B4 gene, ageing, occupational exposure, buccal cells, real-time PCR Kratak sadr`aj: Du`ina telomera smatra se biomarkerom starenja i tokom ovog procesa rezultira skra}enjem. Ovo istra`ivanje predstavlja poku{aj odre|ivanja relativne du`ine telomera kod radnika u mehani~arskim radionicama. Skra}enje du`ine telomera u }elijama tokom profesionalne izloenosti izaziva ubrzano starenje. Genomska DNK izolovana je iz epitelnih }elija unutra{nje strane obraza sakupljenih od 240 osoba, koji su ~inili dve grupe: 120 profesionalno izloenih radnika i 120 neizlo`enih kontrolnih subjekata. Du`ina telomera izmerena je tehnikom PCR u realnom vremenu. Specifi~ni prajmeri telomera (T) i gena prisutnih u jednoj kopiji (S) upotrebljeni su za izra~unavanje relativne razmere T/S i izra`eni kao relativna du`ina telomera. Du`ina telomera zna~ajno se razlikovala izme|u radnika i kontrolnih subjekata (p<0,05). Rezultati su pokazali da izme|u starosti i du`ine telomera kod radnika postoji indirektna i zna~ajna pove zanost (r=-0,356, p=0,001). Ova studija je pokazala da je razlika u skra}enju du`ine telomera izme|u radnika i kontrolnih subjekata bila statisti~ki zna~ajna (p<0,05). Zaklju~eno je da profesionalna izlo`enost predstavlja faktor rizika za znatnije skra}enje du`ine telomera i ubrzano starenje.Klju~ne re~i: telomera, gen 36B4, starenje, profesionalna izlo`enost, }elije unutra{nje strane obraza, PCR u realnom vremenu

Telomere measurement in individuals occupationally exposed to pesticide mixtures in tobacco fields

“…An influence of smoking status on TL within each group was also not found. Eshkoor et al [] observed that smoking affects TL in both workers from mechanical workshops and control groups, while other occupational risk studies have not supported this [Pavanello et al, ]. However, assessment of the entire study population suggested an influence of currently smoking on aTL in our study.…”

“…Although there are few studies about occupational exposure and effects on TL, there is a growing body of evidence that telomere stability can be affected by occupational and environmental exposures [Eshkoor et al, ]. Both increased and decreased of telomere length have been associated with these exposures.…”

“…Both increased and decreased of telomere length have been associated with these exposures. Reduction of TL has been demonstrated in different occupational exposure scenarios: that is, mechanical workshop workers [Eshkoor et al, ], battery manufacturing plant workers [Wu et al, ] and coke oven workers [Pavanello et al, ]. Individuals occupationally exposed to traffic‐related air pollution also had shorter telomeres than non‐exposed individuals [Hoxha et al, ].…”

“…The literature has conflicting results on these lifestyle factors. Eshkoor et al [] and Strandberg et al [] showed that drinkers have decreased TL, whereas Wu et al [] did not find an effect of alcohol consumption. Our lack observed association between TL and intake of fruits and vegetables may be influenced by the number of individuals within each stratified group.…”

Republished: Environmental and occupational exposure to chemicals and telomere length in human studies

“…Of 14 studies, 11 have reported that shorter TL is associated with environmental and occupational exposures, including traffic-related air pollution (ie, particulate matter (PM),7 black carbon (BC),8 and benzene and toluene9), occupational exposure (ie, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),10 11 N-nitrosamines,12 pesticides,13 14 lead,15 exposure in car mechanical workshops)16 and hazardous waste 17. Taken together, these studies suggest that exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals may accelerate telomere shortening, which may be a possible biological mechanism for chronic diseases.…”