I405V polymorphism of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene in young and very old people.

This study was designed to analyse the prevalence of I405V polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene, the CETP serum concentration, the lipoprotein profile, and certain clinical end-points in two populations, one young and another of very old people. We recruited 100 healthy young people (median age 31 years) and 100 very old people (median age 89 years) and analysed their DNA for the presence of I405V polymorphism. The frequency of the VV genotype in very old people was more than double that in the young population. Subjects with this genotype had lower serum concentrations of CETP. Young people with the V/V genotype had a less atherogenic lipoprotein profile (lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Apo B, and Apo B/Apo A-I ratio) than those with the I/V or I/I genotypes. The older subjects, particularly the older women with the V/V genotype, had larger LDL than the young people. The prevalence of clinical endpoints was much lower among the very old people with the V/V genotype. In conclusion, the V/V genotype of the I405V CETP polymorphism is more frequent among very old people than young ones, and is associated with a lower incidence of vascular damage.