Setting the Trajectory: Racial Disparities in Newborn Telomere Length

Abstract

Objective To explore racial differences in newborn telomere length (TL) and the effect moderation of the sex of the infant while establishing the methodology for the use of newborn blood spots for telomere length analyses. Study design Pregnant mothers were recruited from the Greater New Orleans area. TL was determined using MMQ-PCR on DNA extracted from infant blood spots. Demographic data and other covariates were obtained via maternal report prior to infant birth. Birth outcome data were obtained from medical records and maternal report. Results Black infants weighed significantly less than white infants at birth, and had significantly longer TL than White infants (p=0.0134), with the strongest effect observed in Black female infants. No significant differences in gestational age were present. Conclusions Significant racial differences in TL were present at birth in this sample, even after controlling for a range of birth outcomes and demographic factors. As longer initial TL is predictive of more rapid TL attrition across the life course, these findings provide evidence that, even at birth, biological vulnerability to early life stress may differ by race and sex.

Influence of In Utero Maternal and Neonate Factors on Cord Blood Leukocyte Telomere Length: Clues to the Racial Disparity in Prostate Cancer?

“…Our findings were consistent with Okuda et al ( n = 134), finding no difference between cord blood leukocyte telomere length in black and white neonates, although both males and females were included in their study [38]. Drury et al ( n = 66), also including both males and females, found black neonates to have significantly longer telomeres than white neonates and black females to have the longest [39]. There may be differences between these studies and ours due to differences in the array of potential confounders, specifically sex of the neonate.…”

“…Two previous studies also assessed racial differences in neonate telomere length with conflicting results [38, 39]. Our findings were consistent with Okuda et al ( n = 134), finding no difference between cord blood leukocyte telomere length in black and white neonates, although both males and females were included in their study [38].…”

Telomere Length Among Older U.S. Adults: Differences by Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Age

“…Prior research suggests females are born with longer telomeres and this may explain women’s health advantage over men (Aubert, Hills, & Lansdorp, 2012). Some studies have also shown Blacks to have longer TL at birth (Drury et al, 2015; Rewak et al, 2014). Additional research has also shown that girls and Blacks maintain longer TL into adolescence relative to their male and White counterparts (Zhu et al, 2011).…”

Telomere length change plateaus at 4 years of age in Latino children: associations with baseline length and maternal change

“…Studies have reported loss rates in leukocytes from 27 base pairs/year in adults 18-76 years of age (Valdes et al 2005), 31 base pairs/year (2-94 years of age) (Slagboom et al 1994) and up to 62-66 base pairs/year in a group spanning 0-100 years of age (Mayer et al 2006). However, as there is a wide variation in telomere length already present at birth based on ethnicity and race (Drury et al 2015) and due to in utero exposures such as gestational diabetes (Xu et al 2014), cross-sectional studies of telomere length using multi-age groups can be confounded by a myriad of factors. Additionally, as studies have reported telomere lengthening processes in individuals in addition to attrition (Aviv et al 2009;Nordfjall et al 2009;Farzaneh-Far et al 2010), longitudinal studies of telomere length in children with repeat measures are needed to provide accurate rates of telomere change at different ages.…”