Genetics
CETP TaqIB genotype tracks with HDL-C differently in long-lived versus younger Chinese Bama Zhuang adults (Lipids Health Dis 2012)
Original title: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein TaqIB polymorphism and its association with serum lipid levels and longevity in Chinese Bama Zhuang population
Researchers genotyped the CETP TaqIB polymorphism in 523 long-lived residents (aged 90-107) and 498 younger controls without a family history of longevity (aged 40-69) from Bama County, China, a region noted for longevity. Long-lived subjects had higher total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C but lower triglycerides and dyslipidemia prevalence than controls (P < 0.001 for all), with no difference in TaqIB allele or genotype frequencies between groups (P > 0.05). Among long-lived subjects, B2B2 and B1B2 carriers had higher HDL-C and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio than B1B1 carriers (P < 0.01), while among controls, B2 allele carriers had lower total cholesterol and higher HDL-C than noncarriers (P < 0.01). The authors conclude the association between CETP TaqIB and lipid profile differs between long-lived and non-long-lived groups, suggesting the polymorphism may be one of several longevity-related genetic factors in this population.
Original abstract
Background: TaqIB polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene has been reported to be associated with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and longevity in several populations, but controversial results also arose probably due to racial/ethnic diversity. Bama is a remote and mountainous county located in the northwest of Guangxi, People's Republic of China, which has been well known for its longevity for centuries. The current study was to investigate the possible association of CETP TaqIB polymorphism with serum lipid levels and longevity in the Bama Zhuang population.
Methods: The CETP TaqIB genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism in 523 long-lived inhabitants (long-lived group, LG; aged 90-107 years) and 498 healthy controls without longevity family history (non-long-lived group, non-LG; aged 40-69 years) residing in Bama County.
Results: The levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were higher but TG, HDL-C/LDL-C ratio and the prevalence of dyslipidemia were lower in LG than in non-LG (P < 0.001 for all). There were no differences in the allelic and genotypic frequencies between the two groups (P > 0.05). Serum HDL-C levels and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio in LG were different among the genotypes (P < 0.01 for each), the subjects with B2B2 and B1B2 genotyes had higher HDL-C levels and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio than the subjects with B1B1genotye, whereas the levels of TC and HDL-C in non-LG were different among/between the genotypes (P < 0.01 for each), the B2 allele carriers had lower TC and higher HDL-C levels than the B2 allele noncarriers. Serum TG and HDL-C levels and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio were correlated with genotypes in LG, whereas serum TC and HDL-C levels were associated with genotypes in non-LG (P < 0.05-0.001).
Conclusions: The association of CETP TaqIB polymorphism and serum lipid profiles is different between LG and non-LG in the Chinese Bama Zhuang population. CETP TaqIB polymorphism might be one of the longevity-related genetic factors in this population.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.