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Leukocyte Telomere Length in Young Adults Born Preterm: Support for Accelerated Biological Ageing
Carolina C J Smeets1, Veryan Codd2,3, Nilesh J Samani2,3
1Department of Pediatrics, subdivision of Endocrinology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Young adults born preterm have shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker of biological aging. This finding suggests preterm birth may accelerate aging and increase future disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
Background:
- Preterm birth is linked to increased risk of age-associated diseases, including cardiovascular disease.
- The underlying biological mechanisms remain largely unknown.
- Shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker of biological age, is associated with cardiovascular disease risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare LTL between individuals born preterm and at term.
- To assess the association of LTL with cardiovascular disease risk factors in young adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative PCR assay used to measure mean LTL in 470 young adults.
- LTL expressed as T/S ratio.
- Analysis of gestational age influence on LTL and comparison between preterm and term-born groups.
Main Results:
- Gestational age positively correlated with LTL (r = 0.11, p = 0.02).
- Individuals born preterm exhibited significantly shorter LTL (T/S ratio 3.12 ± 0.44) compared to those born at term (3.25 ± 0.46), p = 0.003.
- This difference persisted after adjusting for gender and birth size (p = 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Young adults born preterm demonstrate shorter LTL, indicating accelerated biological aging.
- While no direct correlation with current cardiovascular risk factors was found, shorter LTL may contribute to later-life diseases in this cohort.
Background:
Subjects born preterm have an increased risk for age-associated diseases, such as cardiovascular disease in later life, but the underlying causes are largely unknown. Shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker of biological age, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Objectives:
To compare LTL between subjects born preterm and at term and to assess if LTL is associated with other putative cardiovascular risk factors at young adult age.
Methods:
We measured mean LTL in 470 young adults. LTL was measured using a quantitative PCR assay and expressed as T/S ratio. We analyzed the influence of gestational age on LTL and compared LTL between subjects born preterm (n = 186) and at term (n = 284). Additionally, we analyzed the correlation between LTL and potential risk factors of cardiovascular disease.
Results:
Gestational age was positively associated with LTL (r = 0.11, p = 0.02). Subjects born preterm had shorter LTL (mean (SD) T/S ratio = 3.12 (0.44)) than subjects born at term (mean (SD) T/S ratio = 3.25 (0.46)), p = 0.003). The difference remained significant after adjustment for gender and size at birth (p = 0.001). There was no association of LTL with any one of the putative risk factors analyzed.
Conclusions:
Young adults born preterm have shorter LTL than young adults born at term. Although we found no correlation between LTL and risk for CVD at this young adult age, this biological ageing indicator may contribute to CVD and other adult onset diseases at a later age in those born preterm.
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