title: Telomere length in the two extremes of abnormal fetal growth and the programming effect of maternal arterial hypertension.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with birth weight in both extremes of abnormal fetal growth: small (SGA) and large for gestational age newborns (LGA). Clinical and laboratory variables of the mothers and the neonates were explored; 45 newborns with appropriate weight for gestational age (AGA), 12 SGA and 12 LGA were included. Whether the differences might be explained by variation in OBFC1 (rs9419958) and CTC1 (rs3027234) genes associated with LTL was determined. A significant association between birth weight and LTL was observed; LTL was significantly shorter in LGA newborns (1.01 ± 0.12) compared with SGA (1.73 ± 0.19) p < 0.005, mean ± SE. Maternal (Spearman R = -0.6, p = 0.03) and neonatal LTL (R = -0.25, p = 0.03) were significantly and inversely correlated with maternal history of arterial hypertension in previous gestations. Neonatal LTL was not significantly associated with either rs9419950 or rs3027234, suggesting that the association between neonatal LTL and birth weight is not influenced by genetic variation in genes that modify the interindividual LTL. In conclusion, telomere biology seems to be modulated by abnormal fetal growth; modifications in telomere length might be programmed by an adverse environment in utero.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Biology of Complex Diseases, Institute of Medical Research A. Lanari-IDIM, University of Buenos Aires-National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tellechea
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Biology of Complex Diseases, Institute of Medical Research A. Lanari-IDIM, University of Buenos Aires-National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Tomas Fernandéz
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Gianotti
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Unit, Policlinico Bancario, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvariñas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudio D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, Institute of Medical Research A. Lanari-IDIM, University of Buenos Aires-National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sookoian
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Biology of Complex Diseases, Institute of Medical Research A. Lanari-IDIM, University of Buenos Aires-National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carlos J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Pirola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics*; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C544945:Ctc1 protein, human; C544946:Stn1 protein, human; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins