The association between telomere length and blood lipids: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Biochemistry
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Observational studies suggest a link between telomere length (TL) and blood lipid (BL) levels.
• The causal relationship between TL and BL remains unclear.
• This study investigates the bidirectional causal associations between TL and BL using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if genetically predicted TL influences BL levels.
• To investigate if genetically predicted BL levels influence TL.
• To explore potential mediation effects in these relationships.

Main Methods:

• Utilized large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for genetic instruments.
• Employed bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR), multivariable MR, and mediation analysis.
• Inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was the primary analytical approach.

Main Results:

• Forward MR: Longer TL associated with higher triglycerides (TG).
• Reverse MR: Higher TG, LDL-C, and ApoB associated with longer TL.
• Mediation analysis: Body mass index (BMI) partially mediated the effect of LDL-C on TL.

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest a complex interplay between TL and BL levels.
• Longer TL linked to higher TG; higher TG, LDL-C, and ApoB linked to longer TL.
• Insights may inform strategies for age-related disease prevention.