title: The changes of leukocyte telomere length and telomerase activity after sitagliptin intervention in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, increasing evidence suggests a potential importance of telomere biology in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine whether sitagliptin, a medicine generally used in diabetes, can influence the telomere and telomerase in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Type 2 diabetic patients (T2D, n = 38) and non-diabetic subjects (control, n = 31) were randomly selected from the outpatient of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong university of Science and Technology. Leukocyte telomere length ratio was measured using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction and was analysed. Telomerase activity was measured by polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Peripheral insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment) was calculated from fasting plasma glucose and fasting plasma insulin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Telomere length of the type 2 diabetic patients (1.58 ± 0.57) was significantly shorter than those of control subjects (3.98 ± 0.90) and was significantly elongated after intervention by sitagliptin. There was no significant difference between the T2D and control group in telomerase activity, and the treatment of sitagliptin in T2D group showed no significant effect on the telomerase activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In type 2 diabetes patients, leukocyte telomere length is significantly reduced, whereas the telomerase activity seems less influenced. Sitagliptin might protect β-cells in the pancreas by elongating the telomere length.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Delin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Muxun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D000068900:Sitagliptin Phosphate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase; D000068900:Sitagliptin Phosphate
keywords: sitagliptin; telomerase; telomere; type 2 diabetes