Classes I and II human leukocyte antigens (HLA) genes encode highly polymorphic heterodimeric glycoproteins involved in the control of immune responses. The HLA class I gene @entity14398 seemingly no longer participates in immunity because it has lost its ability to bind peptides and it has acquired the ability to form complex with the receptor for @entity68 -binding transferrin by regulating @entity68 uptake by intestinal cells. Thus, it indirectly regulates immune responses too, because @entity68 availability plays a role in specific and non-specific immune responses. The distribution of @entity14398 polymorphisms in Sicilian centenarians and nonagenarians was studied to evaluate if @entity14398 alleles might be represented differently in @entity1 selected for longevity. DNA samples were obtained from 106 young controls (age range from 22 to 55 years; 40 @entity1 and 66 @entity1 ) and 35 elderly subjects (age range from 91 to 105 years; seven @entity1 and 28 @entity1 ). Samples were typed for @entity14399 , @entity14397 and @entity31397 alleles using polymerase chain reaction and sequence specific primers. Among the young individuals, none was heterozygous for the @entity14399 or for @entity31397 mutation. Twenty-six were heterozygous for @entity14397 mutation. Among the elderly subjects, 11 were heterozygous for the @entity14399 mutation or for @entity14397 mutation. None was heterozygous for the @entity31397 mutation. No compound heterozygous individuals ( @entity14399 / @entity14397 ) were found. A highly significant difference was observed in frequencies of @entity14399 alleles between the young and the elderly subjects on the whole. By analysing polymorphisms according to gender, heterozygous subjects for @entity14399 were found both in old @entity1 and in old @entity1 , but by comparing the allele frequencies to those of young @entity1 significance was attained only in @entity1 . Concerning @entity14397 polymorphisms, no significant differences were observed, between old and young @entity1 , both in @entity1 and in @entity1 . Possession of @entity14399 allele, known to be associated with an increase of @entity68 uptake, significantly increases @entity1 possibility to reach longevity. Thus, present data adds another piece of evidence to the complex puzzle of genetic and environmental factors involved in control of lifespan expectancy in @entity1 .

Association between the MHC class I gene XXXX polymorphisms and longevity: a study in Sicilian population.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'humans', 'people', 'men'] @entity14398 :: ('3077', 'Gene') :: ['HFE'] @entity14397 :: ('p|SUB|H|63|D', 'ProteinMutation') :: ['H63D'] @entity14399 :: ('p|SUB|C|282|Y', 'ProteinMutation') :: ['C282Y'] @entity68 :: ('MESH:D007501', 'Chemical') :: ['iron'] @entity31397 :: ('p|SUB|S|65|C', 'ProteinMutation') :: ['S65C']
@entity14398 :: (3077,Gene) :: ['HFE']
