Telomere length in cardiovascular disease

Giannoudi, M; Spyridopoulos, I

doi:10.1201/9781315152431

Telomere length in cardiovascular disease

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Ioakim Spyridopoulos ORCiD

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Abstract

© 2018 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This chapter examines the role of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) as a marker of cardiovascular ageing. Different techniques to quantify telomere length will be discussed. We will explore a meta-analysis of all relevant studies and discuss the potential link between LTL and coronary artery disease (CAD). Despite the well documented fact that CAD is associated with short LTL, there has been no proof of causality until now. Short telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes itself can have an inherited component without the co-existence of DNA damage, indicate increased cell turnover, e.g., under systemic low grade inflammation, or be a surrogate for accelerated DNA damage and cell senescence. Future Mendelian randomization studies could provide a valuable tool to look into a mechanistic link between LTL and CAD.