Reduced leukocyte telomere lengths and sirtuin 1 gene expression in long‐term survivors of type 1 diabetes: A Dialong substudy

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The shortening of leukocyte telomere length with age has been associated with coronary disease, whereas the association with type 1 diabetes is unclear. We aimed to explore telomere lengths in diabetes patients with regard to coronary artery disease, compared with healthy controls. The longevity factors sirtuin 1 and growth‐differentiating factor 11 were investigated accordingly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a cross‐sectional study of 102 participants with long‐term type 1 diabetes and 75 controls (mean age 62 and 63 years, respectively), where 88 cases and 60 controls without diagnosed coronary artery disease completed computed tomography coronary angiography. Telomere lengths and gene expression of sirtuin 1 and growth‐differentiating factor 11 were quantified in leukocytes. RESULTS: Telomere lengths and sirtuin 1 were reduced in diabetes patients versus controls, medians (25th to 75th percentiles): 0.97 (0.82–1.15) versus 1.08 (0.85–1.29) and 0.88 (0.65–1.14) vs 1.01 (0.78–1.36), respectively, adjusted P < 0.05, both. Previous coronary artery disease in diabetes patients (n = 15) was associated with lower sirtuin 1 and growth‐differentiating factor 11 messenger ribonucleic acid expression (adjusted P < 0.03, both). In the combined diabetes and control group, previous artery coronary disease (n = 18) presented with significantly shorter telomeres (adjusted P = 0.038). Newly diagnosed obstructive coronary artery disease, defined as >50% stenosis, was not associated with the investigated variables. CONCLUSIONS: Long‐term type 1 diabetes presented with reduced telomeres and sirtuin 1 expression, with additional reduction in diabetes patients with previous coronary artery disease, showing their importance for cardiovascular disease development with potential as novel biomarkers in diabetes and coronary artery disease.