Longevity is independent of common variations in genes associated with cardiovascular risk

Do extremely old persons have a genetically favourable profile which has pr otected them from cardiovascular death? We have tried to answer this questi on by measuring DNA polymorphisms of selected cardiovascular risk indicator s [factor VII, FVII (R/Q353, intron 7 (37bp)(n), and -323ins10), beta fibri nogen (-455G/A), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, PAI-1 (-675(4G/5G) ), tissue plasminogen activator, t-PA (intron 8 ins311), platelet receptor glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, GPIIb/IIIa (L/P33), prothrombin (20210G/A). methylen e tetrahydrofolate reductase, MTHFR (A/V114), angiotensin converting enzyme , ACE (intron 16 ins287), and angiotensinogen M/T235)]. Blood was collected from 187 unselected Danish centenarians. and 201 healthy Danish blood dono rs, aged 20-64 years (mean age 42 years). Genomic DNA was amplified using P CR and the genotype was determined by RFLP methods or allele-specific ampli fication followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The frequencies of the hi gh-risk alleles in centenarians were: for FVII R/Q353 0.91; for FVII intron 7 (37bp)(n) 0.67; for FVII-323 ins100.90; for fibrinogen 0.16, for PAI-1; 0.52, for t-PA 0.59; for GPIIb/IIIa 0.16, for prothrombin 0.008; for MTHFR 0.33; for ACE 0.52; and for angiotensinogen 0.36. Comparable frequencies we re observed in the blood donors. Subgroup analysis of men and women separat ely gave similar results. The genotype frequencies in the centenarians and the blood donors were similar for all polymorphisms, and this study suggest s that common variations in genes associated with cardiovascular risk do no t contribute significantly to longevity.