P11-01 Telomeres and aging-related diseases

Telomere length is a well-established biomarker of biological aging. Telomeres progressively shorten with each somatic cell division, and this attrition is exacerbated by environmental stressors that induce oxidative stress and inflammation. Critically short telomeres activate the DNA damage response (DDR), leading to cellular senescence or apoptosis. Telomere characteristics -such as length and shortening ratecarry significant prognostic value for a range of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune diseases, renal conditions, solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Well-established evidence from experimental and clinical studies underscores the prognostic significance of telomere length in age-related disorders, with shorter telomeres consistently linked to higher incidence and poorer prognosis as to these conditions. For instance, individuals with reduced leucocyte telomere length (LTL) demonstrate an elevated risk for metabolic disorders and cardiovascular complications, particularly in the context of type 2 diabetes. Mendelian randomization studies have highlighted the potential causal relationship between telomere length and autoimmune disease pathogenesis. In such disorders, telomere shortening correlates with autoimmune disease severity. In neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, longer telomers may have a protective effect and could be associated with increased life expectancy. In oncology, the disruption of homeostatic mechanisms that regulate normal telomere shortening is considered one of the hallmarks of cancer. For solid tumors, short LTL has been associated with poorer outcomes in breast, prostate, colon, bladder, kidney, and skin cancer. As for hematologic malignancies, telomere length and telomerase activity have prognostic value in major types of leukaemia, emphasizing the potential for telomerase based-immunotherapies. Lifeplus leverages cutting-edge telomere biology and molecular diagnostics to assess biological aging and cellular health based on individual telomere length measurements. Employing techniques such as metaphase quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for telomere length quantification, LifePlus provides personalized high-resolution insights into biological aging. Especially, the metaphase Q-FISH method enables chromosome-specific telomere length assessment, allowing for personalized evaluation of aging rate and potential disease risk.