Epigenetic age and telomere length correlations in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Age is the strongest factor determining disease expression in multiple sclerosis (MS). We previously demonstrated biological age acceleration in pediatric-onset MS (POMS) compared to controls with both epigenetic clocks (DNAm) and telomere length (TL). It is unknown whether these markers report overlapping or distinct aging-related processes. Objectives: To determine the correlation between DNAm and TL aging markers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional case–control study within the US Network of Pediatric MS Centers. We calculated age acceleration residuals for the Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, and GrimAge epigenetic clocks and measured TL from whole blood samples to estimate telomere to somatic DNA ratios (T/S ratio). We employed multivariable analysis of covariance to assess the correlation between DNAm estimates and TL. Results: We analyzed biological ages in 270 participants (125 POMS, mean 15.7 years; 145 controls, mean 15.3 years). There were moderate correlations among the different DNAm clocks, but no correlations between DNAm clocks and TL in pooled analyses. In a stratified analysis, only the control group showed a modest correlation between TL and PhenoAge clock ( r = 0.2, p = 0.06). Conclusions: DNAm did not correlate with TL in this sample of POMS and controls, suggesting that these biomarkers may capture complementary and non-overlapping elements of aging-related biology.
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Journal
Authors: Jennifer H Yang, Jonathan Race, Paige Sumowski, Kayla Jacques, Soha Fardad, Ashley Fair, Allison Hazlett, Jue Lin, Defne Yilmaz, Gregory Aaen, Aaron Abrams, Leslie Benson, T Charlie Casper, Tanuja Chitnis, Mark Gorman, Timothy Lotze, Lauren Krupp, Soe Mar, Jayne Ness, Mary Rensel, John Rose, Teri Schreiner, Jan-Mendelt Tillema, Amy Waldman, Yolanda Wheeler, Lisa F. Barcellos, Emmanuelle Waubant, Jennifer S. Graves
Institutions: University of California San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, University of Utah, Boston University, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, Berkeley, Loma Linda University, Cleveland Clinic, Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Texas Children's Hospital, NYU Langone Health, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Colorado Anschutz, Mayo Clinic, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,400
OpenAlex ID: W4415958124