Abstract
In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, nuclear hormone receptor DAF-12 regulates the decision to go into a resistant dauer diapause, in which the worm exhibits a decreased rate of aging. Using sequence similarity searches, we previously identified the liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha) as one of the human nuclear hormone receptors the protein sequence of which is most similar to C. elegans DAF-12. Here, we studied whether variation in the gene encoding LXRalpha associates with human life span. In the Leiden 85-Plus Study, a population-based prospective follow-up study, we genotyped four polymorphisms spanning the gene coding for LXRalpha (NR1H3) and tagged four common haplotypes. Among 563 participants, haplotype 2 associated with reduced mortality during the 7-year follow-up (hazard ratio 0.78; p =.015), predominantly caused by reduced mortality from infectious disease (hazard ratio 0.31; p =.023). Haplotype 2 also associated with higher levels of plasma apolipoprotein E, a target gene of the LXRalpha (p =.018), and higher levels of triglycerides (p =.041). Genetic variation in the gene coding for the LXRalpha (NR1H3) associates with human life span.
Overview publication
Title | Liver X receptor alpha associates with human life span. |
Date | April 1st, 2007 |
Issue name | The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences |
Issue number | v62.4:343-9 |
DOI | 10.1093/gerona/62.4.343 |
PubMed | 17452725 |
Authors | |
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