Association of leukocyte telomere length with circulating biomarkers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: the Framingham Heart Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) chronicles the cumulative burden of oxidative stress and inflammation over a life course. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, LTL may be related to circulating biomarkers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

We evaluated the cross-sectional relations of LTL (dependent variable) to circulating renin and aldosterone concentrations and the renin-to-aldosterone ratio (all logarithmically transformed; independent variables) in 1203 Framingham Study participants (mean age, 59 years; 51% women). We used multivariable linear regression and adjusted for age, blood pressure, hypertension treatment, smoking, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, hormone replacement therapy, serum creatinine, and the urine sodium-to-creatinine ratio. Overall, multivariable-adjusted LTL was inversely related to renin (beta coefficient per unit increase, -0.038; P=0.036), directly related to aldosterone (beta=0.099; P=0.002), and inversely related to the renin-to-aldosterone ratio (beta=-0.049; P=0.003). Relations of LTL to biomarkers were stronger in those with hypertension, although a formal test of interaction was not statistically significant (P=0.20). Individuals with hypertension displayed significant associations of LTL with renin (beta=-0.060; P=0.005), aldosterone (beta=0.134; P=0.002), and renin-to-aldosterone ratio (beta=-0.072; P<0.001). Participants with hypertension who were in the top tertile of the renin-to-aldosterone ratio had LTL that was 182 base pairs shorter relative to those in the lowest tertile.

CONCLUSIONS:

In our community-based sample, LTL was shorter in individuals with a higher renin-to-aldosterone ratio, especially in participants with hypertension. Additional investigations are warranted to confirm our observations.

• Authors: Ramachandran S Vasan, Serkalem Demissie, Masayuki Kimura, L Adrienne Cupples, Nader Rifai, Charles White, Thomas J Wang, Jeffrey P Gardner, Xiaogian Cao, Emelia J Benjamin, Daniel Levy, Abraham Aviv
• Journal: Circulation (Circulation) Vol. 117 Issue 9 Pg. 1138-44 (Mar 04 2008) ISSN: 1524-4539 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18268147 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers

Topics

• Aged
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Leukocytes (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Renin-Angiotensin System (physiology)
• Telomere (metabolism)