A genome-wide scan for linkage to human exceptional longevity identifies a locus on chromosome 4

作者：Annibale Alessandro Puca, Mark J. Daly, Stephanie J. Brewster, Tara Cox Matise, Jeffrey C. Barrett, Maureen Shea-Drinkwater, Sammy Kang, Erin Joyce, Julie Nicoli, Erica K. Benson, Louis M. Kunkel, Thomas T. Perls · 发表于：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 年份：2001 · DOI：10.1073/pnas.181337598 · 被引用次数：351 · 研究领域：Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms、Genetic Associations and Epidemiology、Epigenetics and DNA Methylation

Substantial evidence supports the familial aggregation of exceptional longevity. The existence of rare families demonstrating clustering for this phenotype suggests that a genetic etiology may be an important component. Previous attempts at localizing loci predisposing for exceptional longevity have been limited to association studies of candidate gene polymorphisms. In this study, a genome-wide scan for such predisposing loci was conducted by using 308 individuals belonging to 137 sibships demonstrating exceptional longevity. By using nonparametric analysis, significant evidence for linkage was noted for chromosome 4 at D4S1564 with a MLS of 3.65 (P = 0.044). The analysis was corroborated by a parametric analysis (P = 0.052). These linkage results indicate the likelihood that there exists a gene, or genes, that exerts a substantial influence on the ability to achieve exceptional old age. Identification of the genes in humans that allow certain individuals to live to extreme old age should lead to insights on cellular pathways that are important to the aging process.