title: Analysis of common polymorphisms in angiotensin-converting enzyme and apolipoprotein e genes and human longevity in Colombia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic analysis of human longevity may be useful for the understanding of molecular mechanisms implicated in age-related diseases. The molecular genetics of human longevity is largely unexplored in Latin American populations and other developing countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  To explore the possibility of an association of common polymorphisms in two candidate genes and longevity in Colombia, we analyzed two polymorphisms in apolipoprotein E (APOE) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genes in a sample of 538 Colombian subjects (18-106 years), using previously validated PCR-based methodologies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant decrease in ACE DD genotype (24 vs. 16%) between young and old subject groups (mean age: 45 vs. 77 years) (p = 0.03). The ACE DD genotype and D allele decrease was significant only in women. There were no differences for APOE polymorphism between young and old subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are compatible with the expected age-related decrease of ACE DD genotype. Future studies examining functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ACE gene and its correlation with serum ACE activity in the older subjects and their younger relatives in this sample are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina e Instituto de Genética, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Diego A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Forero
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinzón
authors.forename: Gonzalo H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Arboleda
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yunis
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Nohra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cataño
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arboleda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D003105:Colombia; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; C488034:ACE protein, human; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A