title: Association between a functional variant of the KLOTHO gene and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, stroke, and longevity.
abstract: We previously identified a functional variant of KLOTHO, termed KL-VS, that is associated with human aging and early-onset occult coronary artery disease. Here, we determine whether the KL-VS allele influences cardiovascular disease risk factors, cardiovascular events, and ultimately, mortality. A total of 525 Ashkenazi Jews composed of 216 probands (age > or =95 years) and 309 unrelated individuals (ages 51 to 94) were genotyped for the KL-VS allele. In concordance with our previous data in Czech individuals (age > or =79; P<0.01), a heterozygous advantage for longevity was observed for individuals > or =79 years of age (P<0.004). Combined analysis indicates a 1.57-fold (95% CI, 1.23 to 1.98) increased odds ratio (OR) for 5-year survival in two independent populations (P<0.0002). Cardiovascular disease risk factors were assessed through multivariate regression analysis, demonstrating that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; P<0.05) and systolic blood pressure (SBP; P<0.008) are associated with KL-VS genotype. History of vascular events was analyzed using logistic regression, indicating that after adjustment for traditional risk factors, heterozygous individuals were at significantly lower risk for stroke than wild-type individuals (OR, 5.88; 95% CI, 1.18 to 29.41), whereas homozygous KL-VS individuals had the highest risk (OR, 30.65; 95% CI, 2.55 to 368.00). Similarly, prospective analysis of mortality in probands using Cox regression indicates that wild-type individuals have a 2.15-fold (95% CI, 1.18 to 3.91) and homozygous KL-VS individuals a 4.49-fold (95% CI, 1.35 to 14.97) increase in relative risk for mortality after adjusting for potential confounders. Thus, cross-sectional and prospective studies confirm a genetic model in which the KL-VS allele confers a heterozygous advantage in conjunction with a marked homozygous disadvantage for HDL-C levels, SBP, stroke, and longevity.
authors.affiliation: McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Dan E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Arking
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Atzmon
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arking
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barzilai
authors.forename: Harry C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Dietz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007585:Jews / Q000235:genetics; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D020521:Stroke / Q000235:genetics*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL