Research Paper Volume 12, Issue 15 pp 15196—15221

Inverse relationship between leukocyte telomere length attrition and blood mitochondrial DNA content loss over time

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Figure 2. Multivariable modelling of cross-sectional leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and whole blood mitochondrial DNA (WB mtDNA) content. Final selected multivariable linear regression models of cross-sectional LTL (variance inflation factor (VIF) ≤2.1) in (A) all, (B) HIV+, and (C) HIV- participants, and WB mtDNA content (VIF≤1.3) in (D) all, (E) HIV+, and (F) HIV- participants. Final models among all participants were selected automatically by minimizing Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). Statistical significance depicted by red confidence intervals; negative standardized β values indicate associations with either shorter LTL or lower WB mtDNA content and vice versa. Coefficients of determination (R2) are shown for each model. The models show that after adjusting for age, ethnicity and substance use, HIV infection is independently associated with shorter LTL and lower WB mtDNA content. Detectable HIV viremia was associated with shorter LTL but not WB mtDNA content.