Unique lipoprotein phenotype and genotype associated with exceptional longevity.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with exceptional longevity have a lower incidence and/or significant delay in the onset of age-related disease, and their family members may inherit biological factors that modulate aging processes and disease susceptibility.


OBJECTIVE
To identify specific biological and genetic factors that are associated with or reliably define a human longevity phenotype.


METHODS
In a case-control design, 213 Ashkenazi Jewish probands with exceptional longevity (mean [SD] age, 98.2 [5.3] years) and their offspring (n = 216; mean [SD] age, 68.3 [6.7] years) were recruited from 1998 to 2002, while an age-matched control group of Ashkenazi Jews (n = 258) and participants from the Framingham Offspring Study (n = 589) were accepted as control groups.


METHODS
Detailed questionnaires, physical examination, and blood samples were taken, including assessment of lipids and lipoprotein subclass levels and particle sizes by proton nuclear magnetic resonance. Samples were also genotyped for the codon 405 isoleucine to valine (I405V) variation in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene, which is involved in regulation of lipoprotein and its particle sizes.


RESULTS
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle sizes were significantly higher in probands compared with both control groups (P =.001 for both), independent of plasma levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 and B. This phenotype was also typical of the proband's offspring but not of the age-matched controls. The HDL and LDL particle sizes were significantly larger in offspring and controls without hypertension or cardiovascular disease, (P =.001 and P =.008, respectively). Furthermore, lipoprotein particle sizes, but not plasma LDL levels, were significantly higher in offspring and controls without the metabolic syndrome (P<.001). Probands and offspring had a 2.9- and 3.6-fold (in men) and 2.7- and 1.5-fold (in women) increased frequency, respectively, of homozygosity for the 405 valine allele of CETP (VV genotype), respectively, compared with controls (P<.001 for both). Those probands with the VV genotype had increased lipoprotein sizes and lower serum CETP concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with exceptional longevity and their offspring have significantly larger HDL and LDL particle sizes. This phenotype is associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, the metabolic syndrome, and increased homozygosity for the I405V variant in CETP. These findings suggest that lipoprotein particle sizes are heritable and promote a healthy aging phenotype.
Barzilai
Nir
N
Institute for Aging Research, Diabetes Research and Training Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA. barzilai@aecom.yu.edu
Atzmon
Gil
G
Schechter
Clyde
C
Schaefer
Ernst J
EJ
Cupples
Adrienne L
AL
Lipton
Richard
R
Cheng
Suzanne
S
Shuldiner
Alan R
AR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003062:Codon; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D007532:Isoleucine; D007585:Jews / Q000235:genetics*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D010316:Particle Size; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014633:Valine
C506642:CETP protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D003062:Codon; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D007532:Isoleucine; D014633:Valine