Telomere length in early life predicts lifespan
Telomere length in early life predicts lifespan
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DOI：
10.1073/pnas.1113306109
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发表时间：
2012-01-31
影响因子：
11.1
通讯作者：
Monaghan, Pat
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Heidinger, Britt J.;Blount, Jonathan D.;Monaghan, Pat
真核生物染色体末端端粒的磨损被认为在随着年龄增长的细胞退化中起着重要作用。因此，在相同年龄的个体中观察到的端粒长度的变化被认为与潜在寿命的变化有关。这种关系的研究受到个体需要跟踪的时间尺度的阻碍，特别是在寿命变化最大的长寿物种中。到目前为止，数据要么是基于端粒长度在不同年龄段之间的简单比较，要么是基于端粒长度最多被测量两次的个体，其随后的生存只在典型寿命的一小部分进行监测。这两种方法都存在偏见。从生命早期开始追踪端粒长度并记录实际寿命的关键研究一直缺乏。我们测量了99只斑胸草雀（n = 99）的端粒长度，并记录了它们的自然寿命（从不足1年到近9年不等）。我们发现，25 d时的端粒长度是实现寿命的非常强的预测因子（P < 0.001）；那些寿命最长的人在他们被测量的所有点上都有相对较长的端粒。繁殖增加了成虫的端粒损失，但这种影响是短暂的，不影响生存。我们的研究结果为端粒长度和寿命之间的关系提供了最有力的证据，并强调了理解决定早期生命端粒长度的因素的重要性。
The attrition of telomeres, the ends of eukaryote chromosomes, is thought to play an important role in cell deterioration with advancing age. The observed variation in telomere length among individuals of the same age is therefore thought to be related to variation in potential longevity. Studies of this relationship are hampered by the time scale over which individuals need to be followed, particularly in long-lived species where lifespan variation is greatest. So far, data are based either on simple comparisons of telomere length among different age classes or on individuals whose telomere length is measured at most twice and whose subsequent survival is monitored for only a short proportion of the typical lifespan. Both approaches are subject to bias. Key studies, in which telomere length is tracked from early in life, and actual lifespan recorded, have been lacking. We measured telomere length in zebra finches (n = 99) from the nestling stage and at various points thereafter, and recorded their natural lifespan (which varied from less than 1 to almost 9 y). We found telomere length at 25 d to be a very strong predictor of realized lifespan (P < 0.001); those individuals living longest had relatively long telomeres at all points at which they were measured. Reproduction increased adult telomere loss, but this effect appeared transient and did not influence survival. Our results provide the strongest evidence available of the relationship between telomere length and lifespan and emphasize the importance of understanding factors that determine early life telomere length.