Aerobic capacity and telomere length in human skeletal muscle and leukocytes across the lifespan

Danielle Hiam, Cassandra Smith, Sarah Voisin, Josh Denham, Xu Yan, Shanie Landen, Macsue Jacques, Javier Alvarez-Romero, Andrew Garnham, Mary N. Woessner, Markus Herrmann, Gustavo Duque, Itamar Levinger, Nir Eynon

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19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A reduction in aerobic capacity and the shortening of telomeres are hallmarks of the ageing process. We examined whether a lower aerobic capacity is associated with shorter TL in skeletal muscle and/or leukocytes, across a wide age range of individuals. We also tested whether TL in human skeletal muscle (MTL) correlates with TL in leukocytes (LTL). Eighty-two recreationally active, healthy men from the Gene SMART cohort (31.4±8.2 years; body mass index (BMI)=25.3±3.3kg/m2), and 11 community dwelling older men (74.2±7.5years-old; BMI=28.7±2.8kg/m2) participated in the study. Leukocytes and skeletal muscle samples were collected at rest. Relative telomere length (T/S ratio) was measured by RT-PCR. Associations between TL, aerobic capacity (VO2 peak and peak power) and age were assessed with robust linear models. Older age was associated with shorter LTL (45% variance explained, P<0.001), but not MTL (P= 0.7). Aerobic capacity was not associated with MTL (P=0.5), nor LTL (P=0.3). MTL and LTL were correlated across the lifespan (rs=0.26, P=0.03). In healthy individuals, age explain most of the variability of LTL and this appears to be independent of individual aerobic capacity. Individuals with longer LTL also have a longer MTL, suggesting that there might be a shared molecular mechanism regulating telomere length.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)359-369
Number of pages11
JournalAging
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aerobic capacity
  • Ageing
  • Exercise
  • Telomere

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