Abstract
BackgroundTaqIB polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene has been reported to be associated with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and longevity in several populations, but controversial results also arose probably due to racial/ethnic diversity. Bama is a remote and mountainous county located in the northwest of Guangxi, People's Republic of China, which has been well known for its longevity for centuries. The current study was to investigate the possible association of CETP TaqIB polymorphism with serum lipid levels and longevity in the Bama Zhuang population.MethodsThe CETP TaqIB genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism in 523 long-lived inhabitants (long-lived group, LG; aged 90-107 years) and 498 healthy controls without longevity family history (non-long-lived group, non-LG; aged 40-69 years) residing in Bama County.ResultsThe levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were higher but TG, HDL-C/LDL-C ratio and the prevalence of dyslipidemia were lower in LG than in non-LG (P < 0.001 for all). There were no differences in the allelic and genotypic frequencies between the two groups (P > 0.05). Serum HDL-C levels and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio in LG were different among the genotypes (P < 0.01 for each), the subjects with B2B2 and B1B2 genotyes had higher HDL-C levels and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio than the subjects with B1B1genotye, whereas the levels of TC and HDL-C in non-LG were different among/between the genotypes (P < 0.01 for each), the B2 allele carriers had lower TC and higher HDL-C levels than the B2 allele noncarriers. Serum TG and HDL-C levels and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio were correlated with genotypes in LG, whereas serum TC and HDL-C levels were associated with genotypes in non-LG (P < 0.05-0.001).ConclusionsThe association of CETP TaqIB polymorphism and serum lipid profiles is different between LG and non-LG in the Chinese Bama Zhuang population. CETP TaqIB polymorphism might be one of the longevity-related genetic factors in this population.
Highlights
Cholesterol plays an essential physiological role in humans
The association of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB polymorphism and serum lipid profiles is different between lived group (LG) and non-LG in the Chinese Bama Zhuang population
The levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were markedly higher, while TG, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-C/LDL-C ratio as well as the prevalence of dyslipidemia were lower in LG as compared with non-LG (P < 0.001 for all)
Summary
Cholesterol plays an essential physiological role in humans. It is mainly synthesized and esterified by the liver and is secreted from the liver into plasma as very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), which gets converted to low triglyceride (TG) in the opposite direction in plasma [1,2]. The B2 allele, absence of the TaqI restriction site, has been found to be associated with elevated plasma HDL-C level and reduced plasma CETP mass and activity and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk [9,10,11,12], and to be associated with longer life expectancy [13,14]. This hypothesis is further supported by the fact that high HDL-C levels are often observed in healthy elderly aged 85 and above [13,15]. The current study was to investigate the possible association of CETP TaqIB polymorphism with serum lipid levels and longevity in the Bama Zhuang population
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