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Study of Cellular Aging in a Cohort of Patients with Heart Failure

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A Correction to this article was published on 11 May 2021

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Abstract

Introduction

Cellular senescence and fibrosis are important phenomena in the development of heart failure (HF). These processes are closely related to telomeric length (TL).

Aim

To assess cellular senescence in HF through the study of TL in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Methods

Using real-time PCR, TL was measured in PBMCs from 20 patients diagnosed with HF, aged between 51 and 77 years (50% males). Ten patients had HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and ten had preserved EF (HFpEF). TL was measured in 20 healthy controls matched by age and gender. Obtained values were compared with an internal control, the 36B4 gene, which never modifies its expression, and correlated with the clinical parameters.

Results

TL mean was 1327 in patients with HF (95% CI 1309–1344) compared to 1286 (95% CI 1264–1308) in controls (p = 0.005). No differences were found when studying the correlation of telomere size with subgroups by gender, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), presence of ischemic heart disease, smoking, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), NYHA stage, degree of renal function or number of hospital admissions in the previous year. A significant and negative correlation was found between age and renal function (r = – 0.544, p < 0.05), as well as LVEF and NT-proBNP values (ρ = – 0.475, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

TL is shorter in patients with HF when compared with age and gender balanced controls. The shortening of TL is independent of age, gender and degree of kidney function, and does not correlate with LVEF decrease or functional status.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral Street S/N, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Bularca Elena, Olivera-González Susana, Menao-Guillén Sebastián & Torralba-Cabeza Miguel Ángel

  2. Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragon), San Juan Bosco Avenue, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Merino-Casallo María Izarbe, Olivera-González Susana, Menao-Guillén Sebastián, Sierra-Monzón José Luis, Domingo-Morera José María & Torralba-Cabeza Miguel Ángel

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, “Lozano Blesa” University Hospital, 15th, San Juan Bosco Avenue, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Merino-Casallo María Izarbe, Olivera-González Susana, Sierra-Monzón José Luis & Torralba-Cabeza Miguel Ángel

  4. Department of Biochemistry, “Lozano Blesa” University Hospital, 15th, San Juan Bosco Avenue, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Menao-Guillén Sebastián

  5. Bank of Blood and Tissues of Aragon, Medical Department, 1st, Ramón Salanova Street, 50017, Zaragoza, Spain

    Domingo-Morera José María

Authors
  1. Bularca Elena
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  2. Merino-Casallo María Izarbe
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  3. Olivera-González Susana
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  4. Menao-Guillén Sebastián
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  6. Domingo-Morera José María
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  7. Torralba-Cabeza Miguel Ángel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Torralba-Cabeza Miguel Ángel.

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Funding

The present research project has been carried out with funds from the University of Zaragoza (Spain).

Conflict of interest

The present authors of the manuscript declare the absence of conflict of interest.

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Elena, B., María Izarbe, MC., Susana, OG. et al. Study of Cellular Aging in a Cohort of Patients with Heart Failure. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 28, 49–55 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-020-00421-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-020-00421-x

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