Shortened Telomere Length as a Risk Factor for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Meta-Analysis - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #Telomere Length
- #Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- #Meta-Analysis
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with a median survival time of 2-4 years.
- Shortened telomere length is significantly associated with IPF incidence.
- A meta-analysis of 6 studies (622 IPF patients and 544 controls) found shorter telomere length in IPF patients (SMD: -0.84, 95% CI -1.21 to -0.48, p < 0.00001).
- Telomere shortening was more pronounced in lung tissue compared to peripheral blood samples.
- Premature senescence due to telomere shortening disrupts lung epithelial cell balance, leading to fibrotic damage via SASP.
- Telomere assessment could be valuable for early detection and as a predictive biomarker for IPF.