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Association between shortened telomere length and rheumatoid arthritis

A meta-analysis

Assoziation zwischen verkürzter Telomerlänge und rheumatoider Arthritis

Eine Metaanalyse

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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between telomere length and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

We performed a meta-analysis of studies comparing the telomere length in RA patients and healthy controls, and conducted subgroup analysis based on ethnicity, age-matched status, study quality, sample type, assay method, subject number, and shared epitope (SE) status.

Results

Nine studies from seven articles, with 388 RA patients and 362 controls, were included. Meta-analysis showed that the telomere length was significantly shorter in all individuals of the RA group than in those of the control group (SMD = −0.833, 95 % CI = −1.332 to −0.334, p = 0.001). Stratification by ethnicity showed significantly shortened telomere lengths in both mixed and age-matched Caucasian populations with RA (SMD = −1.415, 95 % CI = −1.709 to −1.120, p < 1.0 × 10−8; SMD = −0.658, 95 % CI = −1.187 to −0.0.128, p = 0.015). The telomere length was significantly shorter in the RA group than in the age-matched control group; however, this was not the case in the RA group that was not age-matched (SMD = −1.070, 95 % CI = −1.489 to −0.650, p = 5.7 × 10−7; SMD = 0.155, 95 % CI = −0.119 to 0.429, p = 0.267). Stratification by SE status revealed a significantly shortened telomere length in the SE-positive group, but not in the SE-negative group (SMD = −1.033, 95 % CI = −1.398 to −0.768, p < 1.0 × 10−8; SMD = −0.967, 95 % CI = −2.382 to 0.449, p = 0.181). In addition, the telomere length was significantly shorter in the SE-positive RA group than in the SE-negative RA group (SMD = −0.415, 95 % CI = −0.699 to −0.131, p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis demonstrated that the telomere length was significantly shorter in patients with RA, and was significantly more so in the SE-positive group than in the SE-negative group.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel

Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Beziehung zwischen der Telomerlänge und rheumatoider Arthritis (RA) zu beurteilen.

Methoden

Es wurde eine Metaanalyse von Studien durchgeführt, in denen die Telomerlänge bei RA-Patienten und einer gesunden Kontrollgruppe verglichen wurde. Darüber hinaus erfolgte eine Subgruppenanalyse basierend auf Ethnizität, altersgematchem Status, Studienqualität, Probentyp, Assay-Methode, Patientenzahl und Shared-epitome(SE)-Status.

Ergebnisse

Neun Studien aus 7 Artikeln mit 388 RA-Patienten und 362 Kontrollpersonen wurden eingeschlossen. Die Metaanalyse zeigte, dass die Telomerlänge bei allen Patienten der RA-Gruppe signifikant kürzer war als in der Kontrollgruppe (SMD = −0,833; 95 % CI = −1,332 bis −0,334; p = 0,001). Die Stratifikation nach Ethnizität zeigte eine signifikant verkürzte Telomerlänge sowohl in der gemischten als auch in der altersgematchten kaukasischen Population mit RA (SMD = −1,415; 95 % CI = −1,709 bis −1,120, p < 1,0 × 10−8; SMD = −0,658; 95 % CI = −1,187 bis −0,128; p = 0,015). Die Telomerlänge war in der RA-Gruppe signifikant kürzer als in der altersgematchten Kontrollgruppe, jedoch war dies in der nicht altersgematchen RA-Gruppe nicht der Fall (SMD = −1,070; 95 % CI = −1,489 bis −0,650; p = 5,7 × 10−7; SMD = 0,155; 95 % CI = −0,119 bis 0,429; p = 0,267). Die Stratifikation nach SE-Status zeigte eine signifikant verkürzte Telomerlänge in der SE-positiven Gruppe, jedoch nicht in der SE-negativen Gruppe (SMD = −1,033; 95 % CI = −1,398 bis −0,768; p < 1,0 × 10−8; SMD = −0,967; 95 % CI = −2,382 bis 0,449; p = 0,181). Zudem war die Telomerlänge in der SE-positiven RA-Gruppe signifikant kürzer als in der SE-negativen RA-Gruppe (SMD = −0,415; 95 % CI = −0,699 bis −0,131; p = 0,004).

Schlussfolgerung

Die Metaanalyse zeigte, dass die Telomerlänge bei Patienten mit RA signifikant kürzer war, wobei dies in der SE-positiven Gruppe noch deutlicher war als in der SE-negativen Gruppe.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by a grant of the Korea Healthcare technology R&D Project, Ministry for Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI15C2958).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, 02841, Seoul, Korea

    Y. H. Lee MD, PhD

  2. The Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

    S.-C. Bae

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  1. Y. H. Lee MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Y. H. Lee MD, PhD.

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Y. H. Lee and S.-C. Bae state that they have no competing interest.

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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U. Müller-Ladner, Bad Nauheim

U. Lange, Bad Nauheim

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Lee, Y.H., Bae, SC. Association between shortened telomere length and rheumatoid arthritis. Z Rheumatol 77, 160–167 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-016-0209-9

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