title: Shorter telomeres in adults with Type 1 diabetes correlate with diabetes duration, but only weakly with vascular function and risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if white blood cell (WBC) telomeres are shorter in Type 1 diabetes (T1D) than in subjects without diabetes (non-DB), and shorter in T1D subjects with vs. without vascular complications; and to determine associations with vascular biomarkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  WBC relative telomere length (RTL) was determined by quantitative PCR in a cross-sectional study of 140 non-DB and 199 T1D adults, including 128 subjects without vascular complications (T1DNoCx) and 71 subjects with vascular complications (T1DCx). Relationships of RTL with age, T1D duration, arterial elasticity, pulse pressure and vascular risk factors were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RTL did not differ by gender within T1D and non-DB groups. Age-adjusted RTL was shorter in T1D vs. non-DB subjects (1.48±0.03 AU vs. 1.64±0.04 AU, p=0.002), but did not differ by T1D complication status (T1DNoCX 1.50±0.04 vs. T1DCX 1.46±0.05, p=0.50), nor correlate with arterial elasticity. Univariate analysis in T1D showed RTL correlated (inversely) with age r=-0.27, p=0.0001, T1D duration r=-0.16, p=0.03, and pulse pressure (r=-0.15, p=0.04), but not with HbA1c, BP, renal function (serum creatinine, ACR, eGFR), lipids, insulin sensitivity, inflammation (CRP, CAMs) or oxidative stress (OxLDL, OxLDL/LDL-C, MPO, PON-1). Multiple regression analysis showed independent determinants of RTL were age and T1D presence (r=0.29, p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cross-sectional study telomeres were shorter in T1D. RTL correlated inversely with T1D duration, but did not differ by complication status and weakly correlated with pulse pressure and vascular risk factors. Only age and T1D were independent determinants of RTL. Longitudinal studies are merited.
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrzej S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Januszewski
authors.affiliation: Greg Brown Diabetes and Endocrine Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Surya S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sutanto
authors.affiliation: Greg Brown Diabetes and Endocrine Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McLennan
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: O'Neal
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Keech
authors.affiliation: Greg Brown Diabetes and Endocrine Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Twigg
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: alicia.jenkins@ctc.usyd.edu.au.
authors.forename: Alicia J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*; D059506:Telomere Shortening / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Complications; Telomere; Type 1 diabetes