title: Leukocyte telomere length in HIV-infected and HIV-exposed uninfected children: shorter telomeres with uncontrolled HIV viremia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) used in HIV antiretroviral therapy can inhibit human telomerase reverse transcriptase. We therefore investigated whether in utero or childhood exposure to NRTIs affects leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker of cellular aging.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional CARMA cohort study, we investigated factors associated with LTL in HIV-1-infected (HIV(+)) children (n = 94), HIV-1-exposed uninfected (HEU) children who were exposed to antiretroviral therapy (ART) perinatally (n = 177), and HIV-unexposed uninfected (HIV(-)) control children (n = 104) aged 0-19 years. Univariate followed by multivariate linear regression models were used to examine relationships of explanatory variables with LTL for: a) all subjects, b) HIV(+)/HEU children only, and c) HIV(+) children only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for age and gender, there was no difference in LTL between the 3 groups, when considering children of all ages together. In multivariate models, older age and male gender were associated with shorter LTL. For the HIV(+) group alone, having a detectable HIV viral load was also strongly associated with shorter LTL (p = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this large study, group rates of LTL attrition were similar for HIV(+), HEU and HIV(-) children. No associations between children's LTL and their perinatal ART exposure or HIV status were seen in linear regression models. However, the association between having a detectable HIV viral load and shorter LTL suggests that uncontrolled HIV viremia rather than duration of ART exposure may be associated with acceleration of blood telomere attrition.
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. helene.cote@ubc.ca
authors: Hélène C F
authors: HC
authors: Côté
authors: Hugo
authors: H
authors: Soudeyns
authors: Anona
authors: A
authors: Thorne
authors: Ariane
authors: A
authors: Alimenti
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Lamarre
authors: Evelyn J
authors: EJ
authors: Maan
authors: Beheroze
authors: B
authors: Sattha
authors: Joel
authors: J
authors: Singer
authors: Normand
authors: N
authors: Lapointe
authors: Deborah M
authors: DM
authors: Money
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Forbes
authors: Judy
authors: J
authors: Wong
authors: Ari
authors: A
authors: Bitnun
authors: Lindy
authors: L
authors: Samson
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Brophy
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Burdge
authors: Neora
authors: N
authors: Pick
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: van Schalkwyk
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Montaner
authors: Marianne
authors: M
authors: Harris
authors: Patti
authors: P
authors: Janssen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016615:Telomere / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019098:Telomerase