Replication of the results of genome-wide and candidate gene association studies on telomere length in a Korean population.
OBJECTIVE
A number of genome-wide and candidate gene association studies have identified polymorphisms associated with telomere length in Caucasian populations. This study was conducted to determine the impacts of 17 polymorphisms identified in Caucasians on telomere length in a Korean population.


METHODS
Ninety-four healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Relative telomere length of chromosomes from peripheral blood samples was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Two polymorphisms, rs10936599 of MYNN and rs412658 of ZNF676, were found to be associated w ith telomere length (under dominant model, p = 0.04; under recessive model, p = 0.001). Three polymorphisms, rs2853669, rs7705526, and rs2736108, at the TERT locus were also associated with telomere length (under recessive model, p = 0.01, p = 0.02, and p = 0.01, respectively). The genotypes of the five polymorphisms associated with short telomere length were considered bad genotypes; telomere length was significantly decreased with increasing number of bad genotypes (p= 1.7 × 10(-5)).


CONCLUSIONS
We have identified polymorphisms associated with telomere length in a Korean population.
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Sook Kyung
SK
Do
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Seung Soo
SS
Yoo
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Yi Young
YY
Choi
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jin Eun
JE
Choi
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Hyo-Sung
HS
Jeon
Department of Preventive Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Won Kee
WK
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Shin Yup
SY
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jaehee
J
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Seung Ick
SI
Cha
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Chang Ho
CH
Kim
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.|Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jae Yong
JY
Park
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D056910:Republic of Korea; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016335:Zinc Fingers
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; C410903:MYNN protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase
Polymorphisms; Replication; Telomere length