title: Serum BPIFB4 levels classify health status in long-living individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People that reach extreme ages (Long-Living Individuals, LLIs) are object of intense investigation for increase/decrease of genetic variant frequencies, genetic methylation levels, protein abundance in serum and tissues. The aim of these studies is the discovery of the mechanisms behind LLIs extreme longevity and the identification of markers of well-being. We have recently associated a BPIFB4 haplotype (LAV) with exceptional longevity under a homozygous genetic model, and identified that CD34(+) of LLIs subjects express higher BPIFB4 transcript as compared to CD34(+) of control population. It would be of interest to correlate serum BPIFB4 protein levels with exceptional longevity and health status of LLIs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Western blots on cellular medium to detect BPIFB4 secretion in transfected HEK293T cells with plasmid carrying BPIFB4 and ELISA on LLIs serum to detect BPIFB4 levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we show that BPIFB4 is a secreted protein and its levels are increased in serum of LLIs, and high BPIFB4 levels classify their health status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum BPIFB4 protein levels classify longevity and health status in LLIs. Further studies are required to evaluate the possible role of BPIFB4 in monitoring disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 20090 Segrate, MI Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e Informatica, Università di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malovini
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed - Parco Tecnologico, 86077 Pozzilli, IS Italy.
authors.forename: Albino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carrizzo
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 20090 Segrate, MI Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 20090 Segrate, MI Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrario
authors.affiliation: IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maciąg
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed - Parco Tecnologico, 86077 Pozzilli, IS Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madonna
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e Informatica, Università di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellazzi
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 20090 Segrate, MI Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milanesi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed - Parco Tecnologico, 86077 Pozzilli, IS Italy ; Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vecchione
authors.affiliation: IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy ; Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA Italy.
authors.forename: Annibale A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Puca
keywords: BPIFB4; CD34; Methylation; Vascular ageing