Association of serum lipid/lipoprotein with Pro12Ala polymorphism in PPAR-γ2 among Chinese nonagenarians/centenarians.

Background And Aims: In previous studies, the Pro12Ala polymorphism in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPAR-γ2) was shown to be associated with both lipid metabolism and longevity. We examined whether the polymorphism continued to be associated with abnormal levels of serum lipid/lipoprotein among elderly subjects (≥90 years).

Methods: The Pro12Ala variant was examined using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Abnormal levels of serum lipid/lipoprotein were defined according to the criteria provided by the Chinese Medical Association (2004). Abnormal criteria were triglyceride (TG) >5.18 mmol/l, total cholesterol (TC) >1.7 mmol/l, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >3.37 mmol/l and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) <1.04 mmol/l).

Results: The sample included 673 unrelated Chinese individuals aged 90-108 years (mean age: 93.54 ± 3.54 years) and 67.3% females. Genotype frequencies of the Pro12Ala polymorphism were 0% Ala12Ala, 8.9% Pro12Ala, 91.1% Pro12Pro. Neither differences in the levels of serum lipid/lipoprotein nor the prevalence of their abnormal levels was significant between subjects who were or were not 12Ala carriers. Unadjusted and adjusted multiple logistic regressions showed that the odds ratios (OR) for abnormal levels of serum lipid/lipoprotein were not associated with the Pro12Ala polymorphism in PPAR-γ2.

Conclusions: Levels of serum lipid/lipoprotein were not associated with the Pro12Ala polymorphism in PPAR-γ2 among Chinese nonagenarians and centenarians, which was different from the general population.