title: Circulating leukocyte telomere length and oxidative stress: a new target for statin therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the relationship between prior statin therapy and leukocyte telomere length (LTL), as well as their interaction with potential new biomarkers of oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) lesions and reactive oxygen species-induced inflammation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From patients admitted for an acute myocardial infarction, LTL was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), and leukocyte Finkel-Biskis-Jinkins osteosarcoma (FOS) and 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels were measured by retrotranscription Q-PCR. Patients under prior chronic statin therapy were compared with patients without statin therapy. Although patients on statin therapy were older, their mean LTL was longer than patients not under statin therapy (1.29 ± 0.11 vs. 1.25 ± 0.11 T/S ratio, p = 0.008). In contrast, FOS and OGG1 mRNA levels were similar for the 2 groups. LTL decreased with increasing age, FOS, and OGG1 mRNA levels. Statin therapy remained associated with longer LTL, even after adjustment for confounding factors (p = 0.001), and in younger patients (≤ 64 y). Even in groups matched for propensity scores for statin use, LTL was markedly longer in patients under statin therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observational study showed that statin therapy was associated with longer LTL. These data bring to light opportunities to identify new targets for early primary preventive treatment strategies. Moreover, our study raised FOS and OGG1 as new relevant biomarkers of LTL.
authors.affiliation: IFR Santé-STIC, Laboratoire de Physiopathologie et Pharmacologie Cardiovasculaires Expérimentales, UFR Médecine, Université de Bourgogne EA2979, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saliques
authors.forename: Jean-Raymond
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Teyssier
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vergely
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lorgis
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorin
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farnier
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donzel
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sicard
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berchoud
authors.forename: Anne-Cécile
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lagrost
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Touzery
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ragot
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cottin
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rochette
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D045647:DNA Glycosylases / Q000235:genetics; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D057216:Propensity Score; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016615:Telomere / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D045647:DNA Glycosylases; C479058:oxoguanine glycosylase 1, human