The effect of a 12-week resistance training intervention on leukocyte telomere length

Telomere dynamics are an active biological process and positive lifestyle factors such as exercise are proposed to potentiate their length. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a low-resistance, high-repetition resistance training intervention on leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and associated health parameters. 23 sedentary middle-aged adults volunteered for this study (16 female/7 male; age = 51.5 ± 4.9 years) and performed two one-hour sessions of Les Mills BODYPUMP™ per week for 12 weeks. Outcome measures were taken at baseline, after the training intervention and at 12-month follow-up. LTL remained unchanged following the training intervention (pre 0.819 ± 0.121 vs post 0.812 ± 0.114, p = 0.420), despite a borderline significant increase in hTERT expression (p = 0.050). Circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha were reduced after the intervention (p = 0.001). At 12-month follow-up, subjects who returned to a sedentary lifestyle (n = 10) displayed shorter telomeres compared to their pre (p = 0.036) values. In conclusion, no changes were observed in LTL following the 12-week training intervention, despite improvements in molecular parameters associated with telomere dynamics. It appears continued long-term exercise (>12 months) is necessary to preserve LTL in previously sedentary individuals

A comparative analysis of the circadian clock in diptera

The circadian central oscillator of Drosophila melanogaster consists of at least two interlocked negative transcriptional feedback loops. This has been taken to be a general model for higher eukaryotes with the core components conserved but their regulation altered. The work presented here indicates that in Musca domestica, a dipteran closely related to Drosophila, one of these regulatory loops, involving PERIOD (PER) and TIMELESS (TIM), functions in a completely different manner. This study shows that in contrast to Drosophila, Musca PER remains constant in western studies in any lighting condition, whereas like Drosophila TIM cycles in both LD and DD and is constantly degraded in LL. In addition within the central brain immunostaining revealed that even in the small set of cells thought to contain the central pacemaker PER staining was restricted exclusively to the cytoplasm. However following the Drosophila model PER was observed to cycle in the cytoplasm of these cells. Although TIM co-localises with PER in these cells, unlike PER, TIM does become nuclear. This indicates that the negative feedback model illustrated by analysis of the Drosophila is inadequate to explain clock function in Musca. A putative Musca PER nuclear export sequence which functions in other species was tested in GFP constructs but not shown to be involved in altered localisation. In contrast in peripheral tissue such as photoreceptor cells both PER and TIM cycle and both proteins become nuclear late at night as in Drosophila. Stability of Musca PER in LL and an altered relationship between transgenic Musca PER and Drosophila DOUBLETIME indicates an altered relationship between PER and the DBT kinase that may be responsible for PER stability. Thus although it can be seen that a different model is required for other insect species how these proteins act remains to be elucidated

Pilates and telomere dynamics: A 12-month longitudinal study

Telomeres are dynamic structures that appear to be positively influenced by healthy lifestyle factors such as exercise. Pilates is an increasingly popular exercise modality that is reported to exert beneficial physiological effects in the body, although the cellular mechanisms are poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of Pilates exercise on telomere length. This longitudinal study followed experienced female Pilates practitioners (n = 11, 50.8 ± 7.5 years) and healthy age- and sex-matched sedentary controls (n = 11, 49.3 ± 6.1 years) over a 12-month period. Leukocyte telomere length was quantified using qPCR. Circulatory inflammatory markers, mRNA gene expression, body composition, physical performance, and mental well-being were also assessed. Telomere length was comparable between Pilates practitioners and controls at baseline (Pre) and 12-months (Post) (p > 0.0125). Pilates practitioners displayed enhanced mRNA gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD2 and GPX1), and lower body fat percentage and visceral fat rating, compared with sedentary controls (p < 0.0125). Over the 12-month longitudinal period, Pilates participants significantly increased dynamic balance (p < 0.05). In conclusion, long-term Pilates participation does not appear to influence telomere length. Nonetheless, Pilates exercise appears to increase antioxidant enzyme gene expression, effectively manage body composition, and improve dynamic balance

Comparison of telomere length in young and master endurance runners and sprinters

It is unclear how running modality influences telomere length (TL). This single laboratory visit study compared the TL of master sprinters and endurance runners with their young counterparts. The correlation between leukocyte and buccal cell TL in athletes was also explored. Participants consisted of 11 young controls, 11 young sprinters, 12 young endurance runners, 12 middle-aged controls, 11 master sprinters, and 12 master endurance runners. Blood and buccal samples were collected and randomized for analysis of TL by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Young endurance runners displayed longer telomeres than master athletes (p  .05). A positive correlation existed between leukocyte and buccal cell TL in athletes (r = .567, p < .001). In conclusion, young endurance runners possess longer telomeres than master endurance runners and sprinters, a consequence of lower body mass index and visceral fat

Comparison of telomere length in young and master endurance runners and sprinters

It is unclear how running modality influences telomere length (TL). This single laboratory visit study compared the TL of master sprinters and endurance runners with their young counterparts. The correlation between leukocyte and buccal cell TL in athletes was also explored. Participants consisted of 11 young controls, 11 young sprinters, 12 young endurance runners, 12 middle-aged controls, 11 master sprinters, and 12 master endurance runners. Blood and buccal samples were collected and randomized for analysis of TL by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Young endurance runners displayed longer telomeres than master athletes (p  .05). A positive correlation existed between leukocyte and buccal cell TL in athletes (r = .567, p < .001). In conclusion, young endurance runners possess longer telomeres than master endurance runners and sprinters, a consequence of lower body mass index and visceral fat

Elite swimmers possess shorter telomeres than recreationally active controls

Purpose: Elite athletes are reported to possess longer telomeres than their less active counterparts. ACE gene (Insertion/Deletion) polymorphism has been previously associated with elite athletic performance, with the deletion (D) variant appearing more frequently in short distance swimmers. Additionally, the D allele has been reported to have a negative effect on telomere length. The aim of this study was to investigate the telomere length of elite swimmers and its potential association with ACE genotype. Methods: Telomere length was measured by real-time quantitative PCR and ACE I/D genotypes analysed by standard PCR and electrophoresis in 51 young elite swimmers and 56 controls. Results: Elite swimmers displayed shorter telomeres than controls (1.043 ± 0.127 vs 1.128 ± 0.177, p = 0.006). When split by sex, only elite female swimmers showed significantly shorter telomeres than their recreationally active counterparts (p = 0.019). ACE genotype distribution and allelic frequency did not differ between elite swimmers and controls, or by event distance among elite swimmers only. No association was observed between telomere length and ACE genotype in the whole cohort. Conclusions: Elite swimmers possessed shorter telomeres than recreationally active controls. Our findings suggesting a negative effect of high-level swimming competition and/or training on telomere length and subsequent biological aging, particularly in females. However, this significant difference in telomere length does not appear to be attributed to the D allele as we report a lack of association between telomere length and ACE genotype frequency in elite swimmers and controls

Pilates and telomere dynamics: A 12-month longitudinal study

Telomeres are dynamic structures that appear to be positively influenced by healthy lifestyle factors such as exercise. Pilates is an increasingly popular exercise modality that is reported to exert beneficial physiological effects in the body, although the cellular mechanisms are poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of Pilates exercise on telomere length. This longitudinal study followed experienced female Pilates practitioners (n = 11, 50.8 ± 7.5 years) and healthy age- and sex-matched sedentary controls (n = 11, 49.3 ± 6.1 years) over a 12-month period. Leukocyte telomere length was quantified using qPCR. Circulatory inflammatory markers, mRNA gene expression, body composition, physical performance, and mental well-being were also assessed. Telomere length was comparable between Pilates practitioners and controls at baseline (Pre) and 12-months (Post) (p > 0.0125). Pilates practitioners displayed enhanced mRNA gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD2 and GPX1), and lower body fat percentage and visceral fat rating, compared with sedentary controls (p < 0.0125). Over the 12-month longitudinal period, Pilates participants significantly increased dynamic balance (p < 0.05). In conclusion, long-term Pilates participation does not appear to influence telomere length. Nonetheless, Pilates exercise appears to increase antioxidant enzyme gene expression, effectively manage body composition, and improve dynamic balance

Leukocyte Telomere Length in Young Adults Born Preterm: Support for Accelerated Biological Ageing

BACKGROUND: Subjects born preterm have an increased risk for age-associated diseases, such as cardiovascular disease in later life, but the underlying causes are largely unknown. Shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker of biological age, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVES: To compare LTL between subjects born preterm and at term and to assess if LTL is associated with other putative cardiovascular risk factors at young adult age. METHODS: We measured mean LTL in 470 young adults. LTL was measured using a quantitative PCR assay and expressed as T/S ratio. We analyzed the influence of gestational age on LTL and compared LTL between subjects born preterm (n = 186) and at term (n = 284). Additionally, we analyzed the correlation between LTL and potential risk factors of cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: Gestational age was positively associated with LTL (r = 0.11, p = 0.02). Subjects born preterm had shorter LTL (mean (SD) T/S ratio = 3.12 (0.44)) than subjects born at term (mean (SD) T/S ratio = 3.25 (0.46)), p = 0.003). The difference remained significant after adjustment for gender and size at birth (p = 0.001). There was no association of LTL with any one of the putative risk factors analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults born preterm have shorter LTL than young adults born at term. Although we found no correlation between LTL and risk for CVD at this young adult age, this biological ageing indicator may contribute to CVD and other adult onset diseases at a later age in those born preterm

Distributions of mean telomere lengths in subjects born preterm and at term.

<p>T/S ratio = Telomere to single-gene copy ratio; Preterm = gestational age < 37 wks; The horizontal bars represent the mean values.</p

Multiple regression for variables influencing telomere length in the total study population.

<p>p-values below 0.05 are shown in bold type. GA = Gestational age; BL*AH = Interaction term birth length * adult height. SES = Socioeconomic status (Low and middle socioeconomic status are used as reference for SES analyses).</p><p>Multiple regression for variables influencing telomere length in the total study population.</p