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Reduced telomere length is associated with fibrotic joint disease suggesting that impaired telomere repair contributes to joint fibrosis
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, Vol 13, Iss 1, p e0190120 (2018), PLoS ONE
- Publication Year :
- 2018
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2018.
-
Abstract
- Objective Joint fibrosis affects many synovial joints (including hip, knee and shoulder) causing stiffness and pain. The mechanism of joint fibrosis remains unknown, although genetic factors may contribute. Defects in maintenance of telomere length resulting from impaired telomere repair have been shown to cause lung and liver fibrotic disease. Here we tested the hypothesis that joint fibrosis and other soft tissue fibrotic conditions are also associated with telomere length. Patients and methods 5,200 participants in the TwinsUK registry had data on telomere length (measured by qPCR) and the traits of interest (hip and knee stiffness, total joint replacement (TJR, hip or knee) and fibrotic conditions (Dupuytren’s disease, frozen shoulder). Results Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed a significant association between telomere length and fibrotic conditions (hip stiffness, knee stiffness and frozen shoulder, p = ≤0.002) even after taking age into account. No association was found between TJR and telomere length. Conclusion These findings suggest that defects in telomere repair contribute to joint fibrosis, and that fibrosis shares a common mechanistic pathway in different organs. Therapeutic strategies to combat telomere shortening may offer novel treatments for fibrotic joint disease.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
musculoskeletal diseases
Chromosome Structure and Function
Soft Tissues
Adolescent
Materials Science
Material Properties
lcsh:Medicine
Knee Joints
Chromosomes
Stiffness
Pelvis
Young Adult
Medicine and Health Sciences
Mechanical Properties
Humans
lcsh:Science
Musculoskeletal System
Telomere Shortening
Telomere Length
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Hip
Chromosome Biology
lcsh:R
Biology and Life Sciences
Cell Biology
Middle Aged
Fibrosis
United Kingdom
Joints (Anatomy)
Telomeres
Biological Tissue
Physical Sciences
Female
lcsh:Q
Anatomy
Joint Diseases
Research Article
Developmental Biology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.pmid.dedup....2bed83351f3cd78a4ac1a4fef1598fa1