Longitudinal changes in telomere length in PCB-exposed individuals: interaction with CMV infection

Archives of Toxicology, vol. 95, pp. 1517–1520

Abstract

We recently demonstrated a significant shortening of age-adapted telomere length (TL) in lymphocytes of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-exposed individuals. Here, we analyzed TL in individuals of the same PCB-exposed cohort during a 6-year follow-up period, investigating the change in TL between the first and second measurement as a function of time, concentration of PCBs and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The age-adjusted TL of lymphocytes within the cohort of PCB-exposed individuals recovered from a first assessment in 2011 to a second assessment in 2017. Remarkably, if the concentration of lower chlorinated PCBs (LC PCBs) in 2011 was high (≥ 0.055 µg/L), the TL of CMV seropositive individuals remained significantly shortened both compared to age-adjusted controls as well as intra individually. This was confirmed by analysis of covariance as well as by multivariate linear mixed effects models. Since telomeres are responsive to various stress response pathways, including viral infection, we conclude that PCBs could contribute to immune senescence-like phenotypes associated with CMV infections and exacerbate negative aspects associated with the aging of the immune system.

Authors 8

1. Fabian Beier Aachen Department of Hematology, Oncology Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. André Esser Aachen Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany

3. Lucia Vankann Aachen Department of Hematology, Oncology Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. Anne Abels Aachen Department of Hematology, Oncology Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

5. Thomas Schettgen Aachen Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany

6. Thomas Kraus Aachen Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany

7. Tim H. Brümmendorf Aachen Department of Hematology, Oncology Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

8. Patrick Ziegler corresponding Aachen Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany. pziegler@ukaachen.de

   Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany