Sex-specific longevity associations defined by Tyrosine Hydroxylase-Insulin-Insulin Growth Factor 2 haplotypes on the 11p15.5 chromosomal region

By studies in centenarians, it was recently found that an STR marker of the Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH, 11p15.5) gene is associated with human longevity . The aim of the present study was to continue the exploration of the 11p15 .5 chromosomal region in human longevity by analyzing two additional RFLP m arkers, which lie in the Insulin (INS) and Insulin Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) g enes. Both the genes, which are localized downstream TH, are indeed good ca ndidates in longevity, as ascertained on the basis of laboratory studies in experimental models. Neither INS nor IGF2 markers did reveal association w ith longevity. Nevertheless, link-age disequilibrium analyses showed sex-sp ecific longevity associations defined by both TH-INS and TH-IGF2 haplotypes . On the whole, the results reinforce the involvement of the chromosomal re gion spanning from TH to IGF2 loci in controlling the longevity phenotype i n humans. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.