RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Telomere shortening in smokers with and without COPD
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 525
OP 528
DO 10.1183/09031936.06.00087005
VO 27
IS 3
A1 M. Morlá
A1 X. Busquets
A1 J. Pons
A1 J. Sauleda
A1 W. MacNee
A1 A. G. N. Agustí
YR 2006
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/27/3/525.abstract
AB Telomeres are complex DNA–protein structures located at the end of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomere length shortens with age in all replicating somatic cells. It has been shown that tobacco smoking enhances telomere shortening in circulating lymphocytes. The present study investigated whether this effect was further amplified in smokers who develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Telomere length was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridisation in circulating lymphocytes harvested from 26 never-smokers, 24 smokers with normal lung function and 26 smokers with moderate-to-severe airflow obstruction (forced expiratory flow in one second 48±4% predicted). In contrast to never-smokers, telomere length significantly decreased with age in smokers. There was also a dose–effect relationship between the cumulative long-life exposure to tobacco smoking (pack-yrs) and telomere length. The presence and/or severity of chronic airflow obstruction did not modify this relationship. The results of the current study confirm that smoking exposure enhances telomere shortening in circulating lymphocytes. It also demonstrates a dose–effect relationship between exposure to tobacco smoking and telomere length, but failed to show that this effect is amplified in smokers who develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.