Al-Attas, Omar S., Al-Daghri, Nasser M., Alokail, Majed S., Alkharfy, Khalid M., Alfadda, Assim, McTernan, P. G. (Philip G.), Gibson, Greg, Sabico, Shaun and Chrousos, George P.. (2012) Circulating leukocyte telomere length is highly heritable among families of Arab descent. BMC Medical Genetics, Vol.13 (No.1). p. 38. ISSN 1471-2350

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Abstract

Background Telomere length, an indicator of ageing and longevity, has been correlated with several biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease in both Arab children and adults. It is not known, however, whether or not telomere length is a highly conserved inheritable trait in this homogeneous cohort, where age-related diseases are highly prevalent. As such, the aim of this study was to address the inheritability of telomere length in Saudi families and the impact of cardiometabolic disease biomarkers on telomere length. Methods A total of 119 randomly selected Saudi families (123 adults and 131 children) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometrics were obtained and fasting blood samples were taken for routine analyses of fasting glucose and lipid profile. Leukocyte telomere length was determined using quantitative real time PCR. Results Telomere length was highly heritable as assessed by a parent-offspring regression [h2 = 0.64 (p = 0.0006)]. Telomere length was modestly associated with BMI (R2 0.07; p-value 0.0087), total cholesterol (R2 0.08; p-value 0.0033), and LDL-cholesterol (R2 0.15; p-value 3 x 10-5) after adjustments for gender, age and age within generation. Conclusion The high heritability of telomere length in Arab families, and the associations of telomere length with various cardiometabolic parameters suggest heritable genetic fetal and/or epigenetic influences on the early predisposition of Arab children to age-related diseases and accelerated ageing.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QP Physiology
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Metabolic and Vascular Health
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Telomere, Heredity -- Saudi Arabia, Metabolism -- Disorders -- Susceptibility, Aging -- Saudi Arabia
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Medical Genetics
Publisher:	BioMed Central Ltd.
ISSN:	1471-2350
Date:	2012
Volume:	Vol.13
Number:	No.1
Page Range:	p. 38
Identification Number:	10.1186/1471-2350-13-38
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Madīnat al-Malik ʻAbd al-ʻAzīz lil-ʻUlūm wa-al-Tiqnīyah [King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology] (KACST)
Grant number:	APR-26-046 (KACST)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/50839

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