Rapid shortening of leukocyte telomeres is associated with poorer pulmonary function among healthy adults

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) attrition over 13 years (between mean age 30 and mean age 43) and lung function at mean age 50. Materials & methods: In a longitudinal observational study LTL was determined twice on a population-based sample of 481 Jewish residents of Jerusalem at mean ages 30 and 43 years. Pulmonary function was determined at mean age 50 years. Multiple linear regression and multivariable ordinal logistic modeling were applied. Akaike's Information Criteria (AIC) was used for model selection. Results: In unadjusted analysis, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1%) was inversely associated with the LTL attrition rate (standardized beta = −0.110, P = 0.023) but not with the baseline LTL. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC%) was inversely associated with the LTL attrition rate (standardized beta = −0.108, P = 0.026). Multivariable adjustment mildly attenuated the association with the LTL attrition rate (standardized beta = −0.100, P = 0.034 for FEV1% and −0.093, P = 0.042 for FVC%). This would be consistent with a 3.3% [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 3.1-3.4%] decline in FEV1% and a 3.0% (95% CI:2.8-3.1%) decline in FVC% per year. In linear regression models the LTL-pulmonary function association did not differ by sex, social mobility, pack-years smoking exposure, or level of GlycA, a novel systemic inflammatory marker. Conclusions: Greater LTL attrition between mean age 30 and mean age 43 was associated with poorer lung function at mean age 50 years. The availability of longitudinal data on LTL attrition for the first time in the current study strengthens the case for LTL change preceding change in lung function.

Biological embedding of maternal postpartum depressive symptoms: The potential role of cortisol and telomere length

“…Short telomere length, therefore, has been associated with compromised adult all-cause mortality (Wang, Zhan, Pedersen, Fang, & Hägg, 2018) and morbidity, including physical disorders, such as gastric cancer and diabetes, as well as psychological disorders, such as depression (e.g. Desai et al, 2018;D'Mello et al, 2015;Gillis et al, 2019;Lin, Epel, & Blackburn, 2012;Ridout, Ridout, Price, Sen, & Tyrka, 2016;Smith et al, 2019).…”

Genetic Susceptibility to Chronic Kidney Disease – Some More Pieces for the Heritability Puzzle

“…There are inter-individual and intra-individual differences in the length of telomeres. Shorter telomere length has been associated with multi-system diseases, early life stressors, increasing chronological age and all-cause mortality (Dlouha et al, 2014; De Meyer et al, 2018; Desai et al, 2018; Mangaonkar and Patnaik, 2018; Wang et al, 2018; Willis et al, 2018) (Figure 1). The majority of studies have analyzed relative telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes, but telomere length differs between tissues within a single individual, with greater heterogeneity in telomere length evident in older people (Butler et al, 1998; Dlouha et al, 2014).…”

Telomere length and lung function in a population‐based cohort of children and mid‐life adults

“…Changes in lung function provide a snapshot of overall lung health developing over the lifecourse. Increasing evidence in adults suggests that shortened telomeres are associated with reduced lung health . For instance, shortened telomeres are found in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells of COPD patients and in fibrotic areas of adults with pulmonary fibrosis .…”

“…Increasing evidence in adults suggests that shortened telomeres are associated with reduced lung health. 8,9 For instance, shortened telomeres are found in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells of COPD patients 8 and in fibrotic areas of adults with pulmonary fibrosis. 10 Further, a study of 46,396 adults aged between 43 and 73 years showed a modest association of shorter telomere length with decreased lung function.…”