title: Genomic correlates of atherosclerosis in ancient humans.
abstract: Paleogenetics offers a unique opportunity to study human evolution, population dynamics, and disease evolution in situ. Although histologic and computed x-ray tomographic investigations of ancient mummies have clearly shown that atherosclerosis has been present in humans for more than 5,000 years, limited data are available on the presence of genetic predisposition for cardiovascular disease in ancient human populations. In a previous whole-genome study of the Tyrolean Iceman, a 5,300-year-old glacier mummy from the Alps, an increased risk for coronary heart disease was detected. The Iceman's genome revealed several single nucleotide polymorphisms that are linked with cardiovascular disease in genome-wide association studies. Future genetic studies of ancient humans from various geographic origins and time periods have the potential to provide more insights into the presence and possible changes of genetic risk factors in our ancestors. The study of ancient humans and a better understanding of the interaction between environmental and genetic influences on the development of heart diseases may lead to a more effective prevention and treatment of the most common cause of death in the modern world.
authors: Institute for Mummies and the Iceman, European Academy of Bolzano/Bozen (EURAC), Bolzano/Bozen, Italy. Electronic address: albert.zink@eurac.edu.
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Zink
authors: Cardiovascular Physicians, Columbia St. Mary's Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: L Samuel
authors: LS
authors: Wann
authors: Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors: Randall C
authors: RC
authors: Thompson
authors: Department of Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, University Hospital, Saarbrücken, Germany.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Keller
authors: Institute for Mummies and the Iceman, European Academy of Bolzano/Bozen (EURAC), Bolzano/Bozen, Italy.
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Maixner
authors: Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Adel H
authors: AH
authors: Allam
authors: Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Caleb E
authors: CE
authors: Finch
authors: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Frohlich
authors: Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors: Hillard
authors: H
authors: Kaplan
authors: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors: Guido P
authors: GP
authors: Lombardi
authors: Newport Diagnostic Center, Newport Beach, CA, USA.
authors: M Linda
authors: ML
authors: Sutherland
authors: Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, Laguna Hills, CA, USA.
authors: James D
authors: JD
authors: Sutherland
authors: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Watson
authors: Department of Archeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors: Samantha L
authors: SL
authors: Cox
authors: Mission Heritage Medical Group, St. Joseph Heritage Health, Mission Viejo, CA, USA.
authors: Michael I
authors: MI
authors: Miyamoto
authors: Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Jagat
authors: J
authors: Narula
authors: John and Jennifer Ruddy Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Alexandre F R
authors: AF
authors: Stewart
authors: MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute, Long Beach Memorial, Long Beach, CA, USA; University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors: Gregory S
authors: GS
authors: Thomas
authors: Institute of Archaeological Sciences, University of Tubingen, Tubingen, Germany.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Krause
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D004534:Egypt; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007558:Italy; D009106:Mummies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed