The role of IL-1 gene cluster in longevity: a study in Italian population.

Authors: Cavallone L; Bonafè M; Olivieri F; Cardelli M; Marchegiani F; Giovagnetti S; Di Stasio G; Giampieri C; Mugianesi E; Stecconi R; Sciacca F; Grimaldi LM; De Benedictis G; Lio D; Caruso C; Franceschi C

Abstract: In this study, we analysed the polymorphic variants of IL-1alpha (C-T transition at position -889), IL-1beta (C-T transition at position -511) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (Ra) (86-bp repeated sequence in intron 2) in 1131 subjects (453 females and 678 males) from Northern and Central Italy, including 134 centenarians, to evaluate whether IL-1 cluster alleles might be differently represented in people selected for longevity. In addition, IL-1Ra and IL-1beta plasma levels were quantified by ELISA in 130 randomly selected subjects. No significant differences in the genotype and allele frequency distributions were observed between young, elderly and centenarian subjects. IL-1Ra plasma levels showed an age-related increase, whereas IL-1beta plasma levels did not show any detectable age-related trend. Neither IL-1Ra nor IL-1beta plasma levels showed any relationship with genotypes of the three IL-1 genes. These results suggest that no one particular polymorphism in the IL-1 gene cluster yields an advantage for survival in the last decades of life, and that the age-related increase in plasma levels of IL-1Ra seems not to be genetically regulated but a likely safeguard mechanism to buffer the age-associated increased inflammatory state.

Keywords: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging/genetics/immunology; Female; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Humans; Interleukin-1/blood/*genetics; Italy; Longevity/*genetics/*immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Multigene Family; Polymorphism, Genetic; Random Allocation
Journal: Mechanisms of ageing and development
Volume: 124
Issue: 4
Pages: 533-8
Date: April 26, 2003
PMID: 12714264
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Citation:

Cavallone L, Bonafè M, Olivieri F, Cardelli M, Marchegiani F, Giovagnetti S, Di Stasio G, Giampieri C, Mugianesi E, Stecconi R, Sciacca F, Grimaldi LM, De Benedictis G, Lio D, Caruso C, Franceschi C (2003) The role of IL-1 gene cluster in longevity: a study in Italian population. Mechanisms of ageing and development 124: 533-8.


Longevity Variant Associations (p-value):
  • rs1800587
  • rs16944
  • 86-bp repeated sequence in intron 2

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