title: hTERT (-1327)T/C polymorphism is not associated with age-related telomere attrition in peripheral blood.
abstract: Regulation of the telomerase catalytic subunit, hTERT, is a complex process accomplished on many levels. Transcription of the hTERT gene has been widely studied but less is known about the implication of genetic variations. Recently, a functional T to C transition polymorphism was indicated 1327 bp upstream the hTERT transcription starting site. The (-1327)C/C genotype was associated with shorter telomere length compared to the alternative genotypes in healthy individuals and in coronary artery disease patients. We tested this observation and analysed telomere length and the (-1327)T/C polymorphism in 226 myocardial infarction patients and 444 controls from southern Sweden. No significant difference in telomere length was found among the genotypes after age adjustments in the control group (p=0.794) or in the MI group (p=0.339). Moreover, no increased age-related attrition was observed for the (-1327)C/C genotype as previously indicated, rather a telomere elongation in the control group (p=0.021) not seen in the MI group (p=0.249).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biosciences, Pathology, By 6M, 2nd floor, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nordfjäll
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Osterman
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Melander
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D042822:Genomic Instability; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013548:Sweden; D019098:Telomerase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase