Impact of biological aging on arterial aging in American Indians: findings from the Strong Heart Family Study.

Hao Peng,Jue Lin,Jinying Zhao,Fawn Yeh,Richard B Devereux,Lyle G Best,Barbara V Howard,Mary J Roman,Elisa T Lee,Elizabeth Blackburn,Yun Zhu,Shelley A Cole

doi:10.18632/aging.101013

Abstract

Telomere length, a marker of biological aging, has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased arterial stiffness, an indicator of arterial aging, predicts adverse CVD outcomes. However, the relationship between telomere length and arterial stiffness is less well studied. Here we examined the cross-sectional association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and arterial stiffness in 2,165 American Indians in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS). LTL was measured by qPCR. Arterial stiffness was assessed by stiffness index β. The association between LTL and arterial stiffness was assessed by generalized estimating equation model, adjusting for sociodemographics (age, sex, education level), study site, metabolic factors (fasting glucose, lipids, systolic blood pressure, and kidney function), lifestyle (BMI, smoking, drinking, and physical activity), and prevalent CVD. Results showed that longer LTL was significantly associated with a decreased arterial stiffness (β=-0.070, P=0.007). This association did not attenuate after further adjustment for hsCRP (β=-0.071, P=0.005) or excluding participants with overt CVD (β=-0.068, P=0.012), diabetes (β=-0.070, P=0.005), or chronic kidney disease (β=-0.090, P=0.001). In summary, shorter LTL was significantly associated with an increased arterial stiffness, independent of known risk factors. This finding may shed light on the potential role of biological aging in arterial aging in American Indians.

Highlights

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences and their associated proteins at the end of chromosomes
The goal of this study is to examine whether leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with arterial stiffness in a large cohort of American Indians participating in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS), independent of established coronary risk factors
Adjusting for medications on hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia did not change the association between LTL and arterial stiffness (Supplementary Table S1), suggesting that the observed association between LTL and arterial stiffness may not be attributed to these medications

Summary

Introduction

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences and their associated proteins at the end of chromosomes. In a large cohort of American Indians, www.aging‐us.com we have recently demonstrated prospective associations of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with diabetes [6] and carotid atherosclerosis [9] as well as cross-sectional association of LTL with obesity [4]. All these conditions have been related to arterial aging characterized by increased stiffness in the arteries [10]. The goal of this study is to examine whether LTL is associated with arterial stiffness in a large cohort of American Indians participating in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS), independent of established coronary risk factors

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion