Leukocyte telomere length in women with multiple sclerosis: Comparison with healthy women during pregnancy and puerperium

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology Vol. 381; p. 578137
• Main Authors: Caria, P., Pilotto, S., D'Alterio, M.N., Fronza, M., Murgia, F., Frau, J., Fenu, G., Dettori, T., Frau, D.V., Atzori, L., Angioni, S., Cocco, E., Lorefice, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15-08-2023
• Subjects: Female; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Leukocytes; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - genetics; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Puerperium; Reproductive biological phases; Telomere; Pregnancy; Multiple sclerosis; Reproductive biological phases; Puerperium; Telomere
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578137

Several studies indicated leukocyte telomere length (LTL) as a biomarker of multiple sclerosis (MS) evolution. This study aimed to investigate LTL in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to that in healthy women (HW) across different reproductive phases, and to evaluate its relationship with MS activity.
Blood samples were collected from women with MS and HW during the fertile phase, pregnancy, and puerperium. LTL was determined using quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH).
Blood samples from 68 women with MS (22 during fertile life, 23 during pregnancy, and 23 post-partum) and 52 HW (23 during fertile life, 20 during pregnancy, and 9 post-partum) were analyzed. During pregnancy, LTL in MS women and HW was 84.7 ± 10.5 and 77.6 ± 11.5, respectively (p < 0.005). Regression analysis showed that shorter LTL was associated with pregnancy in HW (p = 0.021); this relationship was not observed in MS women, for whom shorter LTL was related to a higher EDSS (p = 0.036). A longitudinal analysis was performed in eight MS women, showing LTL shortening from pregnancy to puerperium (p = 0.003), which was related to MS reactivation (p = 0.042).
Our results highlight the possible associations between LTL, reproductive biological phases, and MS activity after delivery.
•Telomere length (TL) is hypothesized to be an indicator of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) evolution.•Beneficial effects of pregnancy on MS activity have been reported.•Conversely, MS reactivation is frequently reported in the post-partum period.•This study evaluated associations between TL, reproductive biological phases, and MS activity.•From pregnancy to puerperium, an LTL shortening was reported, also related to MS reactivation.