Association of leukocyte telomere length with circulating biomarkers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: the Framingham Heart Study.
BACKGROUND
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) chronicles the cumulative burden of oxidative stress and inflammation over a life course. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, LTL may be related to circulating biomarkers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.


RESULTS
We evaluated the cross-sectional relations of LTL (dependent variable) to circulating renin and aldosterone concentrations and the renin-to-aldosterone ratio (all logarithmically transformed; independent variables) in 1203 Framingham Study participants (mean age, 59 years; 51% women). We used multivariable linear regression and adjusted for age, blood pressure, hypertension treatment, smoking, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, hormone replacement therapy, serum creatinine, and the urine sodium-to-creatinine ratio. Overall, multivariable-adjusted LTL was inversely related to renin (beta coefficient per unit increase, -0.038; P=0.036), directly related to aldosterone (beta=0.099; P=0.002), and inversely related to the renin-to-aldosterone ratio (beta=-0.049; P=0.003). Relations of LTL to biomarkers were stronger in those with hypertension, although a formal test of interaction was not statistically significant (P=0.20). Individuals with hypertension displayed significant associations of LTL with renin (beta=-0.060; P=0.005), aldosterone (beta=0.134; P=0.002), and renin-to-aldosterone ratio (beta=-0.072; P<0.001). Participants with hypertension who were in the top tertile of the renin-to-aldosterone ratio had LTL that was 182 base pairs shorter relative to those in the lowest tertile.


CONCLUSIONS
In our community-based sample, LTL was shorter in individuals with a higher renin-to-aldosterone ratio, especially in participants with hypertension. Additional investigations are warranted to confirm our observations.
Vasan
Ramachandran S
RS
Framingham Heart Study of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Framingham, MA 01702-5827, USA. vasan@bu.edu
Demissie
Serkalem
S
Kimura
Masayuki
M
Cupples
L Adrienne
LA
Rifai
Nader
N
White
Charles
C
Wang
Thomas J
TJ
Gardner
Jeffrey P
JP
Cao
Xiaogian
X
Benjamin
Emelia J
EJ
Levy
Daniel
D
Aviv
Abraham
A
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers