Telomere length is associated with ACE I/D polymorphism in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy
Introduction: Short telomeres are often associated with cardiovascular risk factors and age-related diseases, while the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion polymorphism (DD, ID, II) has shown such associations less consistently. We hypothesized that telomere length and associ...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
SAGE Publications
2013-09-01
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Series: | Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/1470320312460292 |
Summary: | Introduction: Short telomeres are often associated with cardiovascular risk factors and age-related diseases, while the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion polymorphism (DD, ID, II) has shown such associations less consistently. We hypothesized that telomere length and association of telomere length with cardiovascular risk is affected by ACE (I/D) genotype. Methods: We measured leucocyte telomere length (LTL) by Southern blot and analysed ACE I/D genotypes in 1249 subjects with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We examined interactions of ACE I/D genotype with LTL and cardiovascular risk. Results: Mean LTL in DD or ID genotype was shorter (8.15 and 8.14 kb, respectively), than in II genotype (8.27 kb, p =0.0005). This difference was significant in the younger subjects (55–64 years, p =0.02) but not in the older group (65–80 years, p =0.56 ). In DD but not I/D or II genotype, proportion of short telomeres (<5 kb) was related to Framingham risk score. Conclusions: Shorter LTL in genotypes DD or ID suggests a negative effect of the D allele on telomere length. Homozygocity for the D allele appears to strengthen the association of telomere length with increased cardiovascular risk in elderly hypertensive subjects with LVH. |
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ISSN: | 1470-3203 1752-8976 |