Apolipoprotein E genotype is related to plasma levels of C-reactive protein and lipids and to longevity in nonagenarians.

OBJECTIVE: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype is a regulator of hepatic lipoprotein metabolisms and has been linked with longevity. The relationship between APOE genotype and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), which is produced by the liver during inflammation, has not been studied in nonagenarians. The aim of the present study was to establish whether APOE genotype is related to plasma concentrations of CRP and lipids, or longevity among nonagenarians. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: This cross-sectional study consisted of 291 Finnish nonagenarians and three previously described and genotyped control populations from the same area (i.e. newborns, 40-year-olds, and 70-year-olds). RESULTS: In all nonagenarians and especially in women (P= 0.038), CRP level decreased linearly in the genotype order of epsilon2/2, epsilon2/3, epsilon3/3, epsilon2/4, epsilon3/4 and epsilon4/4. Total (P= 0.009) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P = 0.076) levels, in turn, were increased in the epsilon4 allele carriers. In newborns, the epsilon4 frequency was 0.192, in 40-year-olds 0.181, in 70-year-olds 0.179 and in nonagenarians 0.095 (P < 0.0001). The decrease in the epsilon4 allele frequency in the elderly was more clearly seen in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: APOEepsilon4 allele seems to be associated with decreased inflammatory response as measured by CRP among nonagenarians. This finding may partly explain why some epsilon4 allele carriers can reach very old age despite increased risk of hypercholesterolaemia.

Interleukin-6 modulates plasma cholesterol and C-reactive protein concentrations in nonagenarians.

OBJECTIVES: To establish whether the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and plasma lipid and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations is different in Finnish nonagenarians than in middle-aged subjects with lower inflammatory status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Observational cohort study concentrating on the oldest old. PARTICIPANTS: Nonagenarians (n=291, mean age+/-standard deviation 90+/-1; 68 men, 223 women) who lived in the Tampere municipality in southern Finland and a middle-aged control population from the same area (n=227, aged 44+/-8). MEASUREMENTS: Plasma high sensitive CRP and lipid concentrations were analyzed using an automatic analyzer and IL-6 levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of IL-6 (4.39+/-5.25 vs 1.88+/-1.98 pg/mL) and CRP (3.54+/-4.98 vs 1.53+/-1.91 mg/L) were significantly higher in nonagenarians than in middle-aged subjects (P<.001). In nonagenarians, plasma CRP levels increased (P<.001) and plasma total cholesterol (P=.006), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=.02), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=.002) levels decreased according to IL-6 quartiles. In middle-aged subjects, similar associations were not found. CONCLUSION: The relationship between IL-6 and plasma CRP and cholesterol levels in nonagenarians with enhanced systemic inflammation differs from that of middle-aged subjects.