The MNS16A polymorphism in the TERT gene in peri-centenarians from the Han Chinese population

Abstract

MNS16A, a variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism in the TERT gene, has been suggested to regulate telomerase activity. As telomerase activity has been reported to be related to life-span, we hypothesized that this polymorphism might affect human longevity by controlling the length of the telomere. To test this hypothesis, we collected 446 unrelated pericentenarian individuals (age90, mean 94.45±3.45 years) and 332 normal controls (age 2253, mean 35.0±12.0 years) from Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China. We typed the MNS16A polymorphism in both groups, and compared the allele and genotype frequencies between the peri-centenarian and control groups using the chi-squared test. There was no significant difference between the peri-centenarian and control groups. Thus, the MNS16A polymorphism in TERT might not influence human life-span, at least in the Han Chinese population studied here.telomerase, longevity, MNS16A polymorphism, peri-centenarian Citation:

Five gene variants in nonagenarians, centenarians and average individuals

“…With regard to age, we found no differences in the frequency of TERT gene polymorphism. In accordance with our finding, Liu et al also reported no influence of TERT gene polymorphism on human lifespan in Han Chinese peri-centenarians [ 20 ]. Bressler et al [ 18 ] evaluated the association between six TERT polymorphisms with CVD and mortality in White ( n = 8,907) and African-American participants ( n = 3,022) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study with no history of CVD at baseline.…”

“…No associations with mortality were found in either racial group. However, Liu et al [ 20 ] and Bressler et al [ 18 ] evaluated different TERT gene polymorphisms from the one in our present study. The polymorphism evaluated by us (i.e.…”

Analysis of MNS16A VNTR polymorphic sequence variations of the TERT gene and associated risk for development of bladder cancer

“…For example, a study conducted in China found no significant differences between MNS16A polymorphisms among pericentenarian and normal controls. [ 9 ] Another study on MNS16A polymorphisms in prostate cancer cases and controls with benign prostatic hyperplasia showed no significant association with any variant form. [ 25 ] In a study on bladder cancer, SongulDiler et al [ 26 ] found comparable distributions of MNS16A VNTR S/L alleles and SS/LL genotypes among bladder cancer cases and controls with no significant differences.…”

“…[ 5 ] The presence of a single stranded extension and protein complex with tandem nucleotide repeats of the hexamer TTAGGG in telomeres prevents chromosome degradation and stops fusions and rearrangements in eukaryotic chromosomes. [ 6 – 9 ] Human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene ( hTERT ), present in region 5p15.33, encodes a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that extends the chromosome ends which are shortened with each cell division. [ 8 ] Mutations that occur in coding regions of the hTERT gene have important effects on telomerase activity and telomere length.…”

“…The telomeres present at the ends of chromosomes help to maintain the integrity of the genomic structure [5] . The presence of a single stranded extension and protein complex with tandem nucleotide repeats of the hexamer TTAGGG in telomeres prevents chromosome degradation and stops fusions and rearrangements in eukaryotic chromosomes [6–9] . Human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene ( hTERT ), present in region 5p15.33, encodes a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that extends the chromosome ends which are shortened with each cell division.…”