Pneumologie 2012; 66 - A811
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1315556

Are spirometric lung function indices associated with telomere length of circulating leukocytes?

H Schulz 1, E Albrecht 1, J Behr 2, RM Huber 3, D Nowak 3, N Klopp 1, V Codd 4, N Saman 4, C Gieger 1, J Heinrich 1, HE Wichmann 1, A Peters 1, RA Jörres 3, S Karrasch 3
  • 1Neuherberg
  • 2Bochum
  • 3München
  • 4Leicester

Telomere shortening has been recognized as marker of biological aging. Telomere length as well as lung function are decreased in smokers and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), suggesting premature aging due to environmental exposure and/or chronic inflammation. While breathing, any lung is inevitably exposed to air borne pollutants. Therefore, we wondered whether lung function may serve as a surrogate marker for the individual's biological age and studied the association between lung function indices and telomere length in a random sample of the general population.

Spirometry (Master Screen, Care Fusion) was performed in a random population sample including 1321 subjects aged 41 to 63 years from the Augsburg region, Germany (KORA F4 cohort). Smoking history and pulmonary health status were evaluated by a standardized questionnaire. Telomere length in circulating leukocytes was determined by quantitative PCR testing and expressed as ratio of telomere repeat length to single-copy gene (36B4) number (T/S ratio). For association studies, linear regression models were applied with stratification for sex, apparent lung health, smoking and COPD status.

Based on the total population, volumetric measures (forced expiratory volume in 1s, FEV1; forced vital capacity, FVC) but not flow rates were associated with telomere length (beta=0.027 and 0.028, respectively, p<0.05 each). Within strata, significance was only preserved in males for FVC (beta=0.032, p<0.05) after stratifying for sex. Lung function of apparently healthy subjects did not reveal a significant association with telomere length while there was a significant association in smokers for FVC (beta=0.034, p<0.05) and a trend in COPD subjects (beta=0.118, p<0.08).

The association between telomere length and lung function indices in a random population sample was primarily due to smokers and COPD patients. This suggests that lung function mainly reflects biological aging due to extrinsic factors rather than intrinsic aging in the absence of substantial air pollutants.