title: Association between telomere length and experimentally induced upper respiratory viral infection in healthy adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although leukocyte telomere length is associated with mortality and many chronic diseases thought to be manifestations of age-related functional decline, it is not known whether it relates to acute disease in younger healthy populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether shorter telomeres in leukocytes, especially CD8CD28- T cells, are associated with decreased resistance to upper respiratory infection and clinical illness in young to midlife adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2008 and 2011, telomere length was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and T-cell subsets (CD4, CD8CD28+, CD8CD28-) from 152 healthy 18- to 55-year-old residents of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Participants were subsequently quarantined (single rooms), administered nasal drops containing a common cold virus (rhinovirus 39), and monitored for 5 days for development of infection and clinical illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infection (virus shedding or 4-fold increase in virus-specific antibody titer) and clinical illness (verified infection plus objective signs of illness).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rates of infections and clinical illness were 69% (n = 105) and 22% (n = 33), respectively. Shorter telomeres were associated with greater odds of infection, independent of prechallenge virus-specific antibody, demographics, contraceptive use, season, and body mass index (PBMC: odds ratio [OR] per 1-SD decrease in telomere length, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.08-2.72]; n = 128 [shortest tertile 77% infected; middle, 66%; longest, 57%]; CD4: OR, 1.76 [95% CI, 1.15-2.70]; n = 146 [shortest tertile 80% infected; middle, 71%; longest, 54%]; CD8CD28+: OR, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.21-3.09], n = 132 [shortest tertile 84% infected; middle, 64%; longest, 58%]; CD8CD28-: OR, 2.02 [95% CI, 1.29-3.16]; n = 144 [shortest tertile 77% infected; middle, 75%; longest, 50%]). CD8CD28- was the only cell population in which shorter telomeres were associated with greater risk of clinical illness (OR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.01-2.84]; n = 144 [shortest tertile, 26%; middle, 22%; longest, 13%]). The association between CD8CD28- telomere length and infection increased with age (CD8CD28- telomere length × age interaction, b = 0.09 [95% CI, 0.02-0.16], P = .01, n = 144).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this preliminary study among a cohort of healthy 18- to 55-year-olds, shorter CD8CD28- T-cell telomere length was associated with increased risk for experimentally induced acute upper respiratory infection and clinical illness.
authors: Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. scohen@cmu.edu
authors: Sheldon
authors: S
authors: Cohen
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Janicki-Deverts
authors: Ronald B
authors: RB
authors: Turner
authors: Margaretha L
authors: ML
authors: Casselbrant
authors: Ha-Sheng
authors: HS
authors: Li-Korotky
authors: Elissa S
authors: ES
authors: Epel
authors: William J
authors: WJ
authors: Doyle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D003139:Common Cold / Q000235:genetics*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D012229:Rhinovirus; D012306:Risk; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D059506:Telomere Shortening; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018106:CD28 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens