title: A genetic-demographic approach reveals a gender-specific association of SLC6A3/DAT1 40 bp-VNTR with life-expectancy.
abstract: Several recent lines of evidence are proving an important role for dopamine in the aging process and in the determination of life span. Components of the dopaminergic system may represent good candidates for longevity studies. Herein, we tested the possible association of the functional SLC6A3/DAT1 40-bp VNTR with life-expectancy in a healthy population of Central Italy (N = 993) by applying a genetic-demographic approach that takes into account the demographic information and different survival rates between sexes for modeling the survival of specific allele carriers in the population. Male carriers of S*/S* genotype showed a lower survival chance across most of the lifespan respect to the survival of DAT1*L-carriers (P = 0.021). The same analyses gave non-significant results in females. Several studies already reported significant sex differences in dopamine metabolism and its related biological pathways. Thus, we can hypothesize that the SLC6A3/DAT1 40 bp-VNTR may affect life expectancy in a sex-specific way. Moreover, it is conceivable that DAT1 S*/S* carriers, who are prone to assume "risk" type behaviors, may be dropped out of the "healthy" population by a sort of "demographic selection".
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences and Biotechnologies, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Fazal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hadi
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dato
authors.forename: Francesco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Carpi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prontera
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crucianelli
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Renda
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passarino
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Napolioni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020029:Base Pairing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D003710:Demography; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D044382:Population Groups / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human; D004298:Dopamine