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Contribution of Telomere Length to Systemic Sclerosis Onset: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Inmaculada Rodriguez-Martin1, Gonzalo Villanueva-Martin1, Alfredo Guillen-Del-Castillo2
1Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine López-Neyra, CSIC, 18016 Granada, Spain.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|November 14, 2023
Summary
Longer telomere length in leukocytes (LTL) is associated with a reduced risk of systemic sclerosis (SSc). This Mendelian randomization study suggests LTL influences SSc development, highlighting key genetic variants.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Previous studies suggest a link between telomere shortening and systemic sclerosis (SSc).
- The causal relationship between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and SSc requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential causal relationship between LTL and SSc.
- To utilize Mendelian randomization with genome-wide association study data for LTL and SSc.
Main Methods:
- Two-sample Mendelian randomization approach.
- Analysis of genome-wide association study data for LTL and SSc.
- Inverse-variance weighted regression and Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier methods were employed.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between LTL and SSc (OR = 0.716, p = 0.031).
- Longer genetically predicted LTL demonstrated a reduced risk of SSc.
- Sensitivity analyses identified rs10936599 (TERC) and rs2736100 (TERT) as significant variants.
Conclusions:
- Leukocyte telomere length appears to influence the development of systemic sclerosis.
- The findings support a role for telomere biology in SSc pathogenesis.
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