University Medical Centre Groningen, Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands.
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011 May;31(5):1219-25. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.110.217158. Epub 2011 Mar 3.
Shorter leukocyte telomeres are associated with atherosclerosis and predict future heart disease. The goal of the present study was to determine whether leukocyte telomere length is related to atherosclerotic plaque telomere length and whether it is associated with plaque characteristics or recurrence of disease.
Telomere length was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in atherosclerotic plaques and leukocytes in patients with carotid atherosclerosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy (n=684) and of leukocytes in age- and gender-balanced subjects without clinical atherosclerosis (n=780). Leukocyte telomere length was shorter in patients versus controls (0.99 [interquartile range (IQR): 0.79 to 1.26] versus 1.06 [0.80 to 1.39]; P=0.0007). Plaque telomeres were longer than leukocyte telomeres (1.42 [IQR: 1.21 to 1.77] versus 1.01 [IQR: 0.75 to 1.34]; P<1.00×10(-6)) and independent of age. Leukocyte and plaque telomere length were only weakly correlated (correlation coefficient r2=0.04, P=0.03). Patients, whose plaques showed marked macrophage infiltration and large lipid core, had longer plaque telomeres (1.61 [IQR: 1.32 to 2.04] versus 1.40 [IQR: 1.15 to 1.57]; P=0.006) and shorter leukocyte telomeres (0.88 [IQR: 0.75 to 1.20] versus 1.03 [IQR: 0.83 to 1.34]; P=0.02). Plaque telomere length was associated with restenosis 1 year after endarterectomy (OR 1.58±0.206; P=0.026 per SD decrease of plaque telomere length).
Leukocyte telomere length is associated with the presence of atherosclerotic carotid plaques but is not a proxy for local plaque telomere length. Plaque telomere length is related to plaque characteristics and development of restenosis following endarterectomy.
较短的白细胞端粒与动脉粥样硬化有关，并可预测未来的心脏病。本研究的目的是确定白细胞端粒长度是否与动脉粥样硬化斑块端粒长度有关，以及是否与斑块特征或疾病复发有关。
通过实时定量聚合酶链反应，在颈动脉粥样硬化患者（n=684）和年龄和性别匹配的无临床动脉粥样硬化患者（n=780）的颈动脉内膜切除术（CEA）中测量动脉粥样硬化斑块和白细胞中的端粒长度。与对照组相比，患者的白细胞端粒较短（0.99[四分位距（IQR）：0.79 至 1.26]比 1.06[IQR：0.80 至 1.39]；P=0.0007）。斑块端粒比白细胞端粒长（1.42[IQR：1.21 至 1.77]比 1.01[IQR：0.75 至 1.34]；P<1.00×10（-6）），且与年龄无关。白细胞端粒和斑块端粒长度仅呈弱相关（相关系数 r2=0.04，P=0.03）。斑块显示明显的巨噬细胞浸润和大脂质核心的患者，其斑块端粒较长（1.61[IQR：1.32 至 2.04]比 1.40[IQR：1.15 至 1.57]；P=0.006），白细胞端粒较短（0.88[IQR：0.75 至 1.20]比 1.03[IQR：0.83 至 1.34]；P=0.02）。斑块端粒长度与内膜切除术后 1 年的再狭窄有关（每 SD 降低斑块端粒长度，OR 1.58±0.206；P=0.026）。
白细胞端粒长度与颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的存在有关，但不能作为局部斑块端粒长度的替代物。斑块端粒长度与斑块特征及内膜切除术后再狭窄的发生有关。
