title: Telomere G-tail Length is a Promising Biomarker Related to White Matter Lesions and Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients With Cardiovascular Risk: A Cross-sectional Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The telomeric 3'-overhang (G-tail) length is essential for the biological effects of telomere dysfunction in vitro, but the association of length with aging and cardiovascular risk is unclear in humans. We investigated the association between the telomere G-tail length of leukocytes and cardiovascular risk, age-related white matter changes (ARWMCs), and endothelial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease and comorbidity were enrolled (n = 102; 69 males and 33 females, 70.1 ± 9.2 years). Total telomere and telomere G-tail lengths were measured using a hybridization protection assay. Endothelial function was evaluated by ultrasound assessment of brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shortened telomere G-tail length was associated with age and Framingham risk score (P = 0.018 and P = 0.012). In addition, telomere G-tail length was positively correlated with FMD values (P = 0.031) and negatively with the severity of ARWMCs (P = 0.002). On multivariate regression analysis, telomere G-tail length was independently associated with FMD values (P = 0.022) and the severity of ARWMCs (P = 0.033), whereas total telomere length was not associated with these indicators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telomere G-tail length is associated with age and vascular risk factors, and might be superior to total telomere length as a marker of endothelial dysfunction and ARWMC severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nezu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Naohisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anno
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiobiology/Molecular Epidemiology, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tahara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis; D066127:White Matter / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Endothelial dysfunction; Telomere G-tail lengths; Telomere lengths; White matter changes