Authors: Bonafè M; Olivieri F; Cavallone L; Giovagnetti S; Mayegiani F; Cardelli M; Pieri C; Marra M; Antonicelli R; Lisa R; Rizzo MR; Paolisso G; Monti D; Franceschi C

Abstract: Current literature indicates that elevated IL-6 serum levels are associated with diseases, disability and mortality in the elderly. In this paper, we studied the IL-6 promoter genetic variability at -174 C/G locus and its effect on IL-6 serum levels in a total of 700 people from 60 to 110 years of age, including 323 centenarians. We found that the proportion of homozygotes for the G allele at -174 locus decreases in centenarian males, but not in centenarian females. Moreover, we found that, only among males, homozygotes for the G allele at -174 locus have higher IL-6 serum levels in comparison with carriers of the C allele. On the whole, our data suggest that those individuals who are genetically predisposed to produce high levels of IL-6 during aging, i.e. -174 locus GG homozygous men, are disadvantaged for longevity.

Keywords: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alleles; DNA Mutational Analysis; Female; Gene Frequency; *Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Homozygote; Humans; Interleukin-6/biosynthesis/blood/*genetics; Life Expectancy; Longevity/*genetics/immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics; *Sex Characteristics
Journal: European journal of immunology
Volume: 31
Issue: 8
Pages: 2357-61
Date: Aug. 14, 2001
PMID: 11500818
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Citation:

Bonafè M, Olivieri F, Cavallone L, Giovagnetti S, Mayegiani F, Cardelli M, Pieri C, Marra M, Antonicelli R, Lisa R, Rizzo MR, Paolisso G, Monti D, Franceschi C (2001) A gender--dependent genetic predisposition to produce high levels of IL-6 is detrimental for longevity. European journal of immunology 31: 2357-61.


Lifespan Factors:
  • IL6 interleukin 6 (interferon, beta 2)

  • Longevity Variant Associations (p-value):
  • rs1800795 (0.007)

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