Cited by 172Telomeres, Telomerase, and SenescenceGenetic Associations and EpidemiologyGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms

Human telomere biology: pitfalls of moving from the laboratory to epidemiology

Aviv, Abraham, Valdes, Ana M, Spector, Tim D·2006·International Journal of Epidemiology

Abstract

Remarkable progress has been made during the last 2 decades in understanding telomere biology at the molecular and cellular levels. Clinical epidemiology research of human telomeres, in contrast, is a discipline just coming into its own. The most important observation in studying human telomere biology is that telomere length is highly variable among humans. Here we explain some of the reasons for this variability and propose several principles that should be considered in conducting epidemiological telomere research. Ignoring these principles could lead to misleading conclusions.

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Crossref · 10.1093/ije/dyl169

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  • Important caveats in interpreting LTL include distinguishing between telomere shortening in the individual leukocyte and apparent telomere shortening when examining average LTL due to redistribution of leukocyte cell types having different telomere lengths.

    “Important caveats must be considered in interpreting LTL (Aviv et al., 2006; Epel, 2012), e.g., (a) distinguishing between telomere shortening in the individual leukocyte vs. “apparent” telomere shortening when examining average LTL, due to a re-distribution of leukocyte cell types having different telomere lengths, such as naïve vs. memory T cells;”

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Authors
Aviv, A., Valdes, A. M., & Spector, T. D.
Affiliations
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (US)
Corresponding author
Aviv, Abraham
Venue
International Journal of Epidemiology
Published
2006-09-22
Volume
35
Issue
6
Pages
1424-1429
ISSN
  • 0300-5771 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-3685
OpenAlex
W2171796500
Cited by
172
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 14
FWCI
1.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • International Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Rutgers University Community Repository (Rutgers University) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (074951)
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG021593, AG021593, AG-020132, R01AG020132)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
Keywords
telomere length, telomere biology, interindividual variability, clinical epidemiology, research design principles
MeSH terms
Aged, Aging, Humans, Leukocytes, Longitudinal Studies, Epidemiologic Research Design, Bias, Telomere, Molecular Epidemiology, Sample Size

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