Telomere Length: A Cardiovascular Biomarker and a Novel Therapeutic Target.
Marios SagrisPanagiotis TheofilisAlexios S AntonopoulosKonstantinos TsioufisDimitris TousoulisPublished in: International journal of molecular sciences (2022)
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disease with a high prevalence, particularly in developing countries. Currently, the investigation of telomeres as a potential tool for the early detection of the atherosclerotic disease seems to be a promising method. Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences located at the extremities of chromosomes that maintain genetic stability. Telomere length (TL) has been associated with several human disorders and diseases while its attrition rate varies significantly in the population. The rate of TL shortening ranges between 20 and 50 bp and is affected by factors such as the end-replication phenomenon, oxidative stress, and other DNA-damaging agents. In this review, we delve not only into the pathophysiology of TL shortening but also into its association with cardiovascular disease and the progression of atherosclerosis. We also provide current and future treatment options based on TL and telomerase function, trying to highlight the importance of these cutting-edge developments and their clinical relevance.
Keyphrases
- coronary artery disease
- cardiovascular disease
- oxidative stress
- circulating tumor
- single molecule
- cell free
- endothelial cells
- cardiovascular events
- high frequency
- type diabetes
- percutaneous coronary intervention
- risk factors
- genome wide
- nucleic acid
- coronary artery bypass grafting
- gene expression
- ischemia reperfusion injury
- climate change
- human health
- risk assessment
- copy number
- soft tissue
- left ventricular
- genetic diversity