Red blood cell size is inversely associated with leukocyte telomere length in a large multi-ethnic population.

ABSTRACT: Although mutations in the genes encoding either the protein or RNA component of telomerase have been found in patients with various blood disorders, the impact of telomere length on hematopoiesis is less well understood for subjects from the general population. Here we have measured telomere lengths of genomic DNA isolated from circulating leukocytes of 3157 subjects, ranging from 18 to 85 years of age, enrolled in a large multiethnic population based study, the Dallas Heart Study 2. Shorter telomere lengths are marginally associated with lower red blood cell counts in this cohort, but are significantly associated with larger mean red blood cell size (as measured by the MCV), increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW), higher hemoglobin levels and lower platelet counts, even after c

SUBMITTER: Kozlitina J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3514234 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature