Aerobic capacity and telomere length in human skeletal muscle and leukocytes across the lifespan

Abstract

A reduction in aerobic capacity and the shortening of telomeres are hallmarks of the ageing process. We examined whether a lower aerobic capacity is associated with shorter TL in skeletal muscle and/or leukocytes, across a wide age range of individuals. We also tested whether TL in human skeletal muscle (MTL) correlates with TL in leukocytes (LTL). Eighty-two recreationally active, healthy men from the Gene SMART cohort (31.4±8.2 years; body mass index (BMI)=25.3±3.3kg/m 2), and 11 community dwelling older men (74.2±7.5yearsold; BMI=28.7±2.8kg/m 2) participated in the study. Leukocytes and skeletal muscle samples were collected at rest. Relative telomere length (T/S ratio) was measured by RT-PCR. Associations between TL, aerobic capacity (VO2 peak and peak power) and age were assessed with robust linear models. Older age was associated with shorter LTL (45% variance explained, P<0.001), but not MTL (P= 0.7). Aerobic capacity was not associated with MTL (P=0.5), nor LTL (P=0.3). MTL and LTL were correlated across the lifespan (rs=0.26, P=0.03). In healthy individuals, age explain most of the variability of LTL and this appears to be independent of individual aerobic capacity. Individuals with longer LTL also have a longer MTL, suggesting that there might be a shared molecular mechanism regulating telomere length.

Regular, Intense Exercise Training as a Healthy Aging Lifestyle Strategy: Preventing DNA Damage, Telomere Shortening and Adverse DNA Methylation Changes Over a Lifetime

“…The authors explained that exercise training intensity may not influence TL in adulthood. These results are consistent with recent evidence suggesting cardiorespiratory fitness is not associated with leukocyte or skeletal muscle telomeres (Hiam et al, 2020). However, few studies report the inverted U relationship (Ludlow et al, 2008;Savela et al, 2013) between chronic exercise and TL and the majority of positive findings indicating longer leukocyte telomeres in physically active and cardiorespiratory fit individuals (LaRocca et al, 2010;Krauss et al, 2011;Denham et al, 2013Denham et al, , 2016aMason et al, 2013).…”

Association between appendicular skeletal muscle index and leukocyte telomere length in adults: A study from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2002

“…The association of telomere length and muscle mass (appendicular) disappeared in the subjects aged >60 years, and the result supports Danielle Hiam's view that age explains most of the variability of LTL independent of the individual aerobic capacity of healthy subjects [45]. The proportion of the young-preserved muscle mass was higher than that of the young-low muscle mass in light loads and heavy work.…”

Telomere Length as a Marker of Biological Age: State-of-the-Art, Open Issues, and Future Perspectives

“…However, in some cases, TLs may be correlated in different organs even despite these differences. Correlation between TLs in leukocytes and skeletal muscles was demonstrated in recent study by Hiam et al (2020) conducted in healthy individuals across a wide age range (18-87 years). Those subjects who had long (or short) TL in one tissue also tended to have long (or short) TL in another (Figure 7).…”

“… Correlation between skeletal muscle TL (MTL) and LTL. The figure and its legend are reproduced from the article by Hiam et al ( 2020 ) distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0). Copyright © 2020 Hiam et al …”