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Angiotensin-converting enzyme deletion allele is beneficial for the longevity of Europeans

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Abstract

The human angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene is one of the most investigated candidate genes for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the understanding of its role among the elderly is vague. Therefore, this study focuses at: (a) testing the association of ACE polymorphism with CVD risk factors among the elderly, and (b) detecting the possible unequal distribution of ACE genotypes between senescent and younger segments of the European populations. The association of ACE I/D polymorphism with CVD health status [hypertension (HT), obesity, dislypidemia] in 301 very old subjects (88.2 ± 5 years; F/M = 221/80) was tested by means of logistic regression analysis. The meta-analysis of D allele frequency in general vs. elderly (80+ years) groups was conducted using all publicly available data for European populations comprising both age cohorts. Multiple multinomial logistic regression revealed that within this elderly sample, age (younger olds, 80–90 years), female sex (OR = 3.13, 95% CI = 1.59–6.19), and elevated triglycerides (OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.29–4.95) were positively associated with HT, while ACE polymorphism was not. It was also established that the DD genotype was twice as high in 80+ cohort compared to general population of Croatia (p < 0.00001). This trend was confirmed by the meta-analysis that showed higher D allele frequencies in olds from nine of ten considered European populations (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.08–1.31). The data in elderly cohort do not confirm previously reported role of ACE DD genotype to the development of HT. Moreover, meta-analysis indicated that ACE D allele has some selective advantage that contributes to longevity in majority of European populations.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science, Education, and Sports of the Republic of Croatia 196-1962766-2747 to N. Smolej Narančić. We would like to thank the study participants and the administration, medical teams, and employees of the homes for elderly and infirm. We are also grateful to Professor Daniela Sivakova for providing us raw data from 80+ years Slovakian population. We also appreciate help from our colleagues and friends, Professor Branka Janićijević and Ana Barešić, PhD student, in collecting field data.

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  1. Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia

    Matea Zajc Petranović, Tatjana Škarić-Jurić, Nina Smolej Narančić, Željka Tomas, Petra Krajačić & Jasna Miličić

  2. Human Genetics Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Maja Barbalić

  3. Department of Gerontology, Dr Andrija Štampar Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

    Spomenka Tomek-Roksandić

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  1. Matea Zajc Petranović
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Zajc Petranović, M., Škarić-Jurić, T., Smolej Narančić, N. et al. Angiotensin-converting enzyme deletion allele is beneficial for the longevity of Europeans. AGE 34, 583–595 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-011-9270-0

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