title: Haptoglobin (HP) polymorphisms and human longevity: a cross-sectional association study in a Central Italy population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Haptoglobin (HP), which scavenges free, cell-toxic hemoglobin and has anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory function in extravascular tissues, may represent an excellent candidate gene to investigate the life-span expectancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  HP 1/2 polymorphism has been determined for 1072 (569 females, 503 males) unrelated healthy individuals from Central Italy, 18-106 years old, divided into three gender-specific age classes defined according to demographic information and accounting for the different survivals between sexes. HP*1F/S subtyping was also performed to check the possible existence for a preferential advantage of HP*1F or HP*1S allele.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HP*1/*1 genotype results associated to increased probability of young subjects of attaining longevity (Comparison 1: O.R. 1.709, p=0.0114) with a concomitant advantage of HP*1 allele (Comparison 1: O.R. 1.273, p=0.0194). On the other side, carriers of HP*2 allele displayed an overall significant disadvantage in reaching Age Class 2 (O.R. 0.585, p=0.0092). No significant differences were noticed between age groups either considering total HP*1F and HP*1S allele frequencies or according to HP 1/2 genotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The crucial role played by HP in aging process is warranted by its many established functions and its related phenotypes so that it may be considered an important gene involved in the determination of human survival.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Genetics, School of Biosciences and Biotechnologies, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy. valerio.napolioni@unicam.it
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Napolioni
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giannì
authors.forename: Francesco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Carpi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Concetti
authors.forename: Nazzareno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lucarini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D001483:Base Sequence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006242:Haptoglobins