title: Platelet activating factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity and HDL levels, but not PAF-AH gene polymorphisms, are associated with successful aging in Sicilian octogenarians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aging is associated with an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis. Subjects over 80 years of age without cardiovascular disease provide a model to investigate the protective factors increasing their resistance to atherosclerotic disease. Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is an enzyme associated with low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) inactivating platelet-activating factor (PAF) and preventing LDL oxidation by hydrolysis of oxidized phospholipids. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contribution of the PAFAH gene Arg92His, Ile198Thr and Ala379Val polymorphisms to resistance toward developing cardiovascular events in healthy Sicilian octogenarians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Distribution of PAF-AH genotypes and activity, and biochemical parameters, were compared between 100 octogenarians and 200 healthy adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The individuals in the elderly group displayed significantly higher levels of HDL-C (p<0.001) and plasma (p<0.001) and HDL (p<0.001) PAF-AH activity. Analysis of PAFAH genotype distributions showed no significant differences between octogenarians and controls. No differences among PAF-AH genotypes with respect to plasma and HDL PAF-AH activity were found in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide no evidence of a significant association between the PAF-AH gene Arg92His, Ile198Thr and Ala379Val polymorphisms and successful aging in Sicilians. They also emphasize that, in these subjects, aging is characterized by increased levels of PAF-AH activity and HDL-C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Messina, Policlinico G. Martino, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: Maria Adriana
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sardo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trimarchi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonaiuto
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saitta
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bitto
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castaldo
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cinquegrani
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonaiuto
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cristadoro
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saitta
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D017931:DNA Primers; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase