The genes of centenarians shed light on the secrets of a healthy old age
The study of the genes of 894 men and women from Japan and Spain, whose age exceeded the 100-year mark, showed that one of the secrets of longevity lies in the genetic variant localized on the 9th chromosome. According to the results of earlier studies, this variant is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
It is believed that the exceptional life expectancy of people who are commonly called centenarians is partly due to genetic reasons. Experts know a number of genetic variants that can reveal the secret of a long life and a healthy old age. One of them is the rs1333049 polymorphism at the 9p21.3 locus associated with the risk of developing chronic age-related diseases, mainly coronary heart disease. (Polymorphism is a specific variation of the DNA sequence found in members of a particular population.)
The highest risk of coronary heart disease is associated with the C allele of this polymorphism. In order to reveal a possible relationship between rs1333049 polymorphism and exceptional longevity, Spanish researchers analyzed the frequencies of its occurrence in the genomes of centenarians and healthy adults of two independent cohorts differing by region of residence and ethnic origin.
The study included 152 residents of Spain aged 110-111 years and 742 residents of Japan aged 100-115 years.
The incidence of variant C in Spanish centenarians was 47%, compared with 52.9% for healthy people in the control group and 55.1% for patients with coronary heart disease.
When analyzing the genotypes of the Japanese cohort, slightly different results were obtained. The frequency of occurrence of the C allele for centenarians was 46.4%, for healthy people – 47.3%, and for patients with coronary heart disease – 57.2%.
The authors believe that the genetic variant they are studying may be associated with exceptional longevity, especially for residents of southern Europe (similar data were recently obtained for the population of northern Italy).
The biological mechanisms by which this polymorphism can influence the aging process are currently unclear. However, it is known that it is adjacent to two genes – CDKN2A and CDKN2B, which play an important role in the regulation of the cell cycle. The CDKN2A gene is involved in a signaling mechanism mediated by the p53 protein, which is one of the most important mechanisms triggering the physiological aging of the cell.
According to the head of the study, Alejandro Lucia (Alejandro Lucia) from the European University, people who have lived to the 100th anniversary are not only "the top of the population pyramid". They represent a model of healthy aging, as they manage to delay, and in some cases, avoid the development of age-related chronic diseases. The study of the genetic and external factors forming this model will help a person to understand the secrets of healthy longevity and defeat the diseases that overshadow the last years of life.
Article by Tomas Pinos et al. The rs1333049 polymorphism on locus 9p21.3 and extreme longevity in Spanish and Japanese cohorts is published in AGE magazine.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on Plataforma SINC materials:
Spanish and Japanese centenarians reveal a genetic key to longevity.
13.005.2014