Authors: Barbieri M; Bonafè M; Rizzo MR; Ragno E; Olivieri F; Marchegiani F; Franceschi C; Paolisso G
Abstract: Long-lived subjects have been shown to have peculiar anthropometric features (i.e. lower body mass index (BMI)) and metabolic parameters (i.e. improved insulin sensitivity). Life style and a genetic background potentially protective against the age-related metabolic derangement might contribute to such a particular phenotype. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma-2 is an important regulator of adipose tissue metabolism, insulin sensitivity and inflammatory response. Thus, the potential role of genetic variability at Pro/Ala loci of PPARG gene on longevity was studied in 222 long-lived subjects and 250 aged subjects. We found a different Pro/Ala genotype frequency distribution between long-lived and aged men subjects, long-lived men having an increased frequency of Pro/Ala genotype (20 vs 8.5%); no differences was found when allele and genotype distribution of Pro/Ala gene polymorphism were analyzed in the two age group of women. Interestingly, subjects with Pro/Ala polymorphism had significantly lower BMI than Ala/Ala and Pro/Pro polymorphism. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that paraoxonase Pro/Ala gene polyporphism is associated with human longevity. Such an effect is probably due to the effect of Pro/Ala polymorphism on body composition and appears to be gender specific.
Keywords: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging/genetics/metabolism/physiology; Anthropometry; Body Composition/genetics/physiology; Body Mass Index; Female; Gene Frequency; *Genetic Variation; Genotype; Humans; Longevity/*genetics; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Genetic; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/*genetics; Sex Characteristics; Transcription Factors/*genetics|
Journal: Experimental gerontology Volume: 39 Issue: 7 Pages: 1095-100 Date: July 9, 2004 PMID: 15236769 |
Barbieri M, Bonafè M, Rizzo MR, Ragno E, Olivieri F, Marchegiani F, Franceschi C, Paolisso G (2004) Gender specific association of genetic variation in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma-2 with longevity. Experimental gerontology 39: 1095-100.
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