title: An age-associated decrease in the frequency of C4B*Q0 indicates that null alleles of complement may affect health or survival.
abstract: We studied the distribution of complement C4, C3, and factor B allotypes in 423 healthy Icelandic subjects from 17 to 89 years of age. A marked decrease was observed in the carrier frequency of variant alleles of complement C4B (C4B(*)Q0) and C3 (C3(*)F). These results confirm our previous observations on Hungarian subjects and suggest a negative effect of C4B(*)Q0 on health or survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Department of Medicine, Landspítali University Hospital, LSH Hringbraut, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. garason@landspitali.is
authors.forename: Gudmundur Jóhann
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Arason
authors.forename: Sigurdur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bödvarsson
authors.forename: Sigurudr Thor
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sigurdarson
authors.forename: Gardar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sigurdsson
authors.forename: Gudmundur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thorgeirsson
authors.forename: Sveinn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gudmundsson
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Füst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000235:genetics; D015935:Complement C4b / Q000235:genetics*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D008875:Middle Aged; D017741:Survivors
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; C088036:HLA-B67 antigen; D015935:Complement C4b; D003165:Complement System Proteins