Evaluating minimally invasive sample collection methods for telomere length measurement

Goldman, Elisabeth A; Eick, Geeta; Compton, Devan; Kowal, Paul; Snodgrass, J. Josh; Eisenberg, Dan T. A.; Sterner, Kirstin N.

doi:10.1002/ajhb.23062

Cited by 28 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 63 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Several studies have compared telomere length in different tissues from the same individual, and concluded that telomere lengths from these different tissues are significantly correlated (Daniali et al, 2013; Friedrich et al, 2000; Stout et al, 2017). Correlations between TL measured from venous blood and saliva from the same individual are reported to be modest, but statistically significant (Goldman et al, 2018; Stout et al, 2017). However, the difference between different tissues are still considerably larger than the group differences found using a single tissue source in most studies.…”

Section: Sample Sourcementioning

confidence: 95%

Telomere length measurement by qPCR – Summary of critical factors and recommendations for assay design

Lin

Smith

Esteves

et al. 2019

Psychoneuroendocrinology

117

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Research in the last decade has explored the length of telomeres, the protective ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, as a biomarker for the cumulative effects of environmental exposures and life experiences as well as a risk factor for major diseases. With a growing interest in telomere biology across biomedical, epidemiological and public health research, it is critical to ensure that the measurement of telomere length is performed with high precision and accuracy. Of the several major methods utilized to determine telomere length, quantitative PCR (qPCR) remains the most cost-effective and suitable method for large-scale epidemiological and population studies. However, inconsistencies in recent reports utilizing the qPCR method highlight the need for a careful methodological analysis of each step of this process. In this review, we summarize each critical step in qPCR telomere length assay, including sample type selection, sample collection, storage, processing issues and assay procedures. We provide guidance and recommendations for each step based on current knowledge. It is clear that a collaborative and rigorous effort is needed to characterize and resolve existing issues related to sample storage, both before and after DNA extraction, as well as the impact of different extraction protocols, reagents and post extraction processing across all tissue types (e.g. blood, saliva, buccal swabs, etc.) to provide the needed data upon which best practices for TL analyses can be agreed upon. Additionally, we suggest that the whole telomere research community be invited to collaborate on the development and implementation of standardized protocols for the assay itself as well as for reporting in scientific journals. The existing evidence provides substantial support for the continuation of telomere research across a range of different exposures and health outcomes. However, as with any technological or methodologic advance in science, reproducibility, reliability and rigor need to be established to ensure the highest quality research.

show abstract

Section: Sample Sourcementioning

confidence: 95%

Telomere length measurement by qPCR – Summary of critical factors and recommendations for assay design

Lin

Smith

Esteves

et al. 2019

Psychoneuroendocrinology

117

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Mean qPCR efficiency was 115% for telomere and 105% for beta-globin gene; slopes of the standard curves were − 3.05 and − 3.22, while the coefficient of regression (r 2 ) was 0.98 and 0.99 for telomere and beta-globin gene, respectively. Values were not accepted if the 3 replicates had a CV > 15% [46]. The intra-assay and inter-assay CV, calculated on the T/S ratio, were 6.7% (as in Aviv et al) [47] and 12%, respectively.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lymphocyte homeostasis is maintained in perinatally HIV-infected patients after three decades of life

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background While immunosenescence, defined as reduced production of new lymphocytes, restriction of T-cell receptor repertoire and telomeres shortening, has been extensively evaluated in HIV-infected children and adults, no data about these parameters are available in perinatally-infected patients with very long-lasting HIV infection. Methods We compared thymic and bone marrow output, telomere length (measured by Real-Time PCR) and T-cell receptor repertoire (determined by spectratyping) of 21 perinatally HIV-infected subjects (with a median of 27 years of infection) with those of 19 age-matched non-perinatally HIV-infected patients and 40 healthy controls. All patients received a combined antiretroviral therapy. Results While thymic and bone marrow output were not different among the analyzed groups, telomere length in peripheral blood cells and T-cell receptor diversity were significantly lower in HIV-perinatally and non-perinatally infected individuals compared to healthy controls. Conclusions In HIV-infected subjects, a normal thymic output together with a reduced telomere length and a restricted T-cell receptor repertoire could be explained by the shift of newly produced cells into memory subsets. This phenomenon may allow to control viral infection and maintain peripheral homeostasis.

show abstract

“…While saliva is primarily composed of leukocytes, it is more heterogeneous than whole blood (the most common source of DNA for TL studies) (Theall et al, ; Thiede et al, ). Regardless, previous studies of salivary TL have shown moderate to strong associations with blood TL, the expected negative associations with age and low intra‐sample variance, suggesting that saliva samples are a viable option for TL measurement (Chen et al, ; Goldman et al, ; Mitchell et al, ; Nelson et al, ; Stout et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…TL measured from DNA extracted from Oragene saliva kits consistently associates with blood TL in the literature; published Pearson's correlation coefficients range from r = 0.48‐0.72 (Goldman et al, ; Mitchell et al, ; Stout et al, ). Variation in correlation values is likely reflective of cellular heterogeneity in saliva samples, as they consist of roughly 80% leukocytes and 20% epithelial cells on average (Theall et al, ; Thiede, Prange‐Krex, Freiberg‐Richter, Bornhauser, & Ehninger, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…In spite of the reported cellular heterogeneity, salivary TL reliably satisfies measures of external and internal validity that are regularly used when measuring TL. For example, significant negative associations with age in salivary TL estimates are almost universally reported in the literature, while intra‐sample QC is regularly within acceptable bounds (Chen et al, ; Goldman et al, ; Nelson, Varcin, Coman, Devivo, & Tager‐Flusberg, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Shortened telomere length is associated with unfair treatment attributed to race in African Americans living in Tallahassee, Florida

Rej

Gravlee²,

Mulligan

2019

American J Hum Biol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: Experiences of interpersonal discrimination are pervasive stressors in the lives of African Americans. Increased discrimination stress may cause premature aging. Telomere length (TL) is a plastic genetic trait that is an emerging indicator of cellular health and aging. Short TL is a risk factor for the earlier onset of disease. TL shortens with age, a process that may be accelerated by psychosocial stress. Our study explores the relationship between TL and experiences of discrimination in the form of self-reported unfair treatment (UT). Methods: Using a qPCR-based method, we measured TL in DNA from saliva samples provided by 135 African American adults from Tallahassee, FL. We developed discrimination measures using a modified survey that explores nine social domains of self-reported unfair treatment experienced both directly and indirectly.We used multiple regression to examine associations between UT and TL. Results: We found that racial discrimination in the form of self-reported unfair treatment attributed to race (UT-Race-Self) is inversely associated with TL. Conclusions: The significant association between increased UT-Race-Self and shorter telomeres supports the hypothesis that psychosocial stress stemming from racial discrimination may affect TL. The potential impact of discrimination on TL may contribute to premature biological aging and racial health inequalities seen in African Americans.

show abstract

Evaluating minimally invasive sample collection methods for telomere length measurement

Cited by 28 publications

References 63 publications

Telomere length measurement by qPCR – Summary of critical factors and recommendations for assay design

Telomere length measurement by qPCR – Summary of critical factors and recommendations for assay design

Lymphocyte homeostasis is maintained in perinatally HIV-infected patients after three decades of life

Shortened telomere length is associated with unfair treatment attributed to race in African Americans living in Tallahassee, Florida

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About