Research progress in relationship between telomere length and risk factors of cardiovascular disease

Telomere, a DNA repeat sequence at the ends of chromosomes, 4 to 15 kbp, prevents the ends of chromosomes from being broken and dissolved and maintains structural and genetic stability of chromosomes. Owing to shortening after every replication, it could potentically be an important biomarker in the process of biological aging. Consistent with T2DM, Alzheimer disease and osteoporosis, coronary heart disease is also an aging-related disease. Telomere length and coronary heart disease are closely related to organism aging and degeneration and relevant studies have demonstrated that leukocyte telomere length may be associated with coronary heart disease. This suggests that telomeres may be involved in the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease but the causality remains uncertain. Therefore, we consider telomere affects when compared with traditional risk factors of coronary heart disease. In summary, this article reviews research progress in the relationship between leukocyte telomere length and traditional risk factors of coronary heart disease.