Association of shorter mean telomere length with risk of incident myocardial infarction: a prospective, nested case-control approach.
BACKGROUND
Recent data have implicated telomere length shortening as a potential risk predictor for cardiovascular disease. However, to date, prospective epidemiological data are scarce.


METHODS
Using leukocyte DNA samples collected at baseline in a prospective cohort of 14,916 initially healthy American men, we examined the relationship of mean telomere repeat copy number to single gene copy number (T/S ratio), using a re-modified quantitative polymerase chain reaction protocol, among 337 white males who subsequently developed an incident myocardial infarction (MI), and among an equal number of age- and smoking-matched white males who remained free of reported vascular disease during follow-up (controls).


RESULTS
The mean follow-up time since randomization was 3.85 y. The T/S ratio was inversely correlated with age in the controls (R=-0.114; p=0.036). The log(e)-transformed T/S ratios were significantly smaller in the MI cases (3.41+/-0.63) than the MI controls (3.52+/-0.78) (p=0.01). In a multi-variable adjusted analysis, decreased T/S ratio was significantly associated with risk of MI (odds ratio=1.621; 95%CI=1.140-2.304; p=0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
The present investigation has shown an association of telomere length shortening with increased risk of incident myocardial infarction, further suggesting the importance of telomere biology in atherogenesis.
Zee
Robert Y L
RY
Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States. rzee@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Michaud
Sherri E
SE
Germer
Soren
S
Ridker
Paul M
PM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*