More Severe Lung Disease, Using Inhaled Corticosteroids Are Linked To Shorter Telomere Length In Immune Cells From People With CF, Study Suggests

Cystic Fibrosis News Today (9/16, Lobo) reports, “More severe lung disease and using inhaled corticosteroids are associated with shorter telomere length, a sign of cellular aging, in immune cells from people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a study suggests.” The study found that “the shorter telomeres were observed in white blood cells called leukocytes and were particularly more pronounced in men and in patients with two copies of the F508del mutation, the most common CF-causing mutation.” Additionally, “telomere shortening happened much faster in very young children with the F508del mutation, but the rate declined throughout childhood and adolescence.” The findings were published in Aging.