Modest implication of interleukin-6 promoter polymorphisms in longevity.
The multifunctional interleukin-6 has been suggested to contribute to a chronic low-grade inflammatory status, thereby conferring susceptibility to age-related pathological conditions as well as functional decline and increased mortality. Several polymorphisms have been identified in the interleukin-6 promoter, but investigation of the effect of these on interleukin-6 levels and disease susceptibility have led to contradictory results. This study investigates the significance of the three single-point polymorphisms (-597G/A, -572G/C and -174G/C) and the AT-stretch polymorphism (-373(A)n(T)m) in ageing, by comparison of the frequency of each single polymorphism separately as well as the entire promoter haplotype in a total of 1710 Danish subjects ranging in age from 47 to 100 years. We found a modest, but significant, increase in the frequency of interleukin-6 -174GG homozygotes with age suggesting that this genotype is advantageous for longevity.
Christiansen
L
L
Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. lchristiansen@health.sdu.dk
Bathum
L
L
Andersen-Ranberg
K
K
Jeune
B
B
Christensen
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D015850:Interleukin-6