The association of paraoxonase 2 gene 311Cys/Ser polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by coronary heart disease

AIM:To study the association of the human paraoxonase 2(PON2)311Cys/Ser polymorphism genotypes and coronary heart disease(CHD)in type 2 diabetes mellitus(type 2 DM)in Chinese subjects of north area. METHODS:PON2-311 cysteine(C type)/serine(S type)polymorphism was determined using PCR and restriction mapping with Dde Ⅰ,in 75 elder pat ients with type 2 DM,39 with CHD,36 without CHD,and 38 normal elder controls.RESULTS:There was significant difference in frequencies of genotypes between CHD in type 2 DM group and normal control group(P<0.05).S allele frequencies of PON2-311Cys/Ser polymorphism in CHD in type 2 DM group were higher than that in control groups.The S allele of PON2-311Cys/Ser was a risk for developing CHD in type 2 DM(OR=2.09,95%CI:1.04-4.22,P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The S allele of PON2-311Cys/Ser polymorphism is associated with CHD in type 2 DM.The dif erence of PON2-311Cys/Ser among various races was observed.     

Association of F XⅢVal34Leu with coronary heart disease

AIM: To investigate the distribution of coagulation factor XⅢ (FXⅢ) Val34Leu polymorphism in Chinese and the relationship between the polymorphism and coronary heart disease (CHD) or myocardial infarction. METHODS: A total of 195 patients with angiographically confirmed CHD and 203 controls were genotyped for the Val34Leu polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis. RESULTS: The FXⅢ Val34Leu was found in 19 out of all 398 samples (4.8%) representing a Leu allele frequency of 2.4%. The distribution of FXⅢ genotype and allele was not significantly different between all patients and controls (P>0.05). The Val/Leu genotype and Leu allele frequencies in subjects without MI were significantly higher than that in subjects with MI (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: There is F XⅢ Val34Leu polymorphism in Han ethnic group.     

Correlation between DDAH2 gene polymorphism and coronary heart disease

AIM: To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of dimethylarginine dimethylamino acid hydrolase (DDAH) gene and coronary heart disease (CHD) in Chinese population. METHODS: The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and ligase detection reaction (LDR) were used to detect the genotypes of SNP rs805305 and rs2272592 in 192 controls and 165 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). RESULTS: Both the frequency of rs805305 CG+GG or G allele and the frequency of rs2272592 GA+AA or A allele had no significant difference between CHD and control (P＞0.05). These results were independent of age, gender, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSION: The rs805305 and rs2272592 polymorphism of DDAH2 gene might not be related to the coronary heart disease (CHD) in Chinese.     

Association analysis of FcεRⅠβ gene with allergic asthma in Chinese

AIM: To investigate the linkage between the polymorphism of -109 and Glu237 in the high-affinity IgE receptorβ(FcεRⅠβ) gene and susceptibilty of allergic asthma in adults in a Chinese population. METHODS: Allergic asthma sample in adult and age-and sex-matched control were studied. A-109C/T and a coding variant Glu237Gly in FcεRⅠβ were detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: (1)The genotype frequencies were 0.415 for -109T/T, 0.491 for-109T/C and 0.094 for -109C/C in allergic asthma in adults. No significant difference in the distribution of-109C/T polymorphism was found between allergic asthma adult subjects and healthy control subjects. However, a homozygosity for the-109T allele was associated with increased total plasma IgE levels in subjects with allergic asthma (F=7.213, P<0.01). (2)The allele frequency of Gly237 in the patients and control was 0.245 and 0.142, respectively. There was a significant association between Gly/Gly genotype and allergic asthma in adults among allergic asthma patients. Gly237 was significantly associated with high IgE. CONCLUSIONS: It suggests that Gly237 vaviant of the FcεRⅠβ gene is involved in the development of allergic asthma. The-109C/T and Glu237Gly polymorphisms are two of the genetic factors identified, which affects total plasma IgE levels in adult allergic asthma in Han of Hubei province.     

Distribution of α1 immunoglobulin gene VNTR polymorphisms in Chinese

AIM: To investigate the polymorphisms of the variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in the α1 immunoglobulin gene in the Chinese population and to compare them with the Caucasians. METHODS: 3 VNTR loci (VNTR1:α1 gene hs1,2 enhancer VNTR; VNTR2: 6 kb forward (change to upstream or down stream) the VNTR1 and E5VNTR: located in the fifth exon) and their lengths in the α1 gene have been retrieved from the genetic databases and literature. Genomic DNA was extracted from 201 healthy Chinese Han subjects. The sizes of the 3 VNTRs were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis, and confirmed by sequencing randomly selected samples. RESULTS: The VNTR1 locus revealed three different lengthed alleles, designated as α1A ,α1B and α1C for one, two and three repeat sequences, respectively, with the frequencies of 30.3%, 59.7% and 10.0%, respectively. 6 genotypes were formed from the alleles with the frequencies of 12% for the AA; 32.3% for the AB; 37.8% for the BB; 4.5% for the AC; 11.4% for the BC; and 2.0％ for the CC, respectively. Compared with the reported Caucasian population the frequencies of the C allele and the BC、CC、AC genotypes were significantly higher (P＜0.01), the A allele and the AB genotype frequencies were significantly lower (P＜0.01). All the examined subjects showed the uniformed lengths of 136 bp for the VNTR2 and 535 bp for E5VNTR alleles. CONCLUSIONS: The repeat numbers of the VNTR1 of the α1 gene in the Chinese Han population are significantly different from the Caucasians with a higher C allele frequency and BC、 AC genotypes, and lower A allele frequency and AB genotype. We could not find evidence of polymorphism in the VNTR2 and E5VNTR loci in the examined subjects. The results represent the first data from the Chinese population regarding the VNTR polymorphisms in the I alpha 1 gene, and provide a useful tool for the gene and the gene related studies.     

Association of coagulation factor Ⅻ gene C46T polymorphism and coronary artery disease in patients documented angiography

AIM: To study the distribution of C46T polymorphism of factor Ⅻ(FⅫ) in Chinese Han population and the association of the polymorphism with coronary artery disease(CAD) and acute coronary syndrome(ACS). METHODS: Selected coronary angiography was performed in 168 CAD patients and 210 controls. Genetype of FⅫ was typed by mutagenically separated polymerase chain reaction assay(MSPCR). RESULTS: FⅫ allelic frequencies of C and T were 29.8%, 70.2% and 31.4%, 68.6% in CAD and controls, respectively(P>0.05). Genetype distribution was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequency of CC, CT, TT in CAD and control was 8.7%, 40.5%, 50.0% and 5.2%, 52.6%, 42.2%. The association between FⅫ genetype and CAD(2=6.393, P<0.05) was observed. As compared with the CC group, the CT genetype was a protective factor for CAD(OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-0.97). When compared to stable coronary artery disease, the frequency of TT genetype is significant less in ACS group(45.0% vs 62.5%, 2=4.200, P<0.05). The distribution of genetype in C46T was no significant difference among the numbers of stenosed coronary artery. CONCLUSION: The C46T polymorphism of FⅫ is association with CAD in Chinese Han population. The C→T mutation may be a protective factor against CAD and ACS.     

Study on the association of the polymorphism at the position -418A/G and -384C/T in the Apo(a) promoter

AIM: To investigate two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the apolipoprotein(a) promoter at positions -418 and -384 and to compare distributing difference of genotype frequencies of single nucleotide among different races and to explore the influencies of them on serum lipid level and their association with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Using PCR-RFLP (BsgI,BfaI) method, we determined genotypes of these two SNPs in 156 unrelated healthy controls of HanZu Chinese and 56 unrelated CHD patients of HanZu Chinese and 56 unrelated African Blacks, then cloned polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products into T-vector and sequenced it by M13 currency primer, correspondingly. RESULTS: (1) There was no polymorphism at position -418A/A and -384C/C in control group. Only one CHD patient's genotype determined was -418G/G, other were -418A/A and -384C/C in CHD patients. (2) Only two African Blacks' genotype determined was -418G/G, other were -418A/A and -384C/C in African Blacks. (3) However, the Apo(a) promoter sequence was in coincident with the sequence publicized in GenBank and the base at positions -418 was adenine (A) and -384 was cytosine (C). CONCLUSION: The mutation frequencies at position -418 and -384 were low in the Chinese Han Population of Hubei and perhaps no single nucleotide polymorphisms was at two positions. No association with serum lipid levels and CHD was observed. There were great variabilities to the SNPs in the Apo(a) promoter among different races.     

Correlation of adiponectin gene SNP+45 T/G polymorphism with coronary heart disease

AIM: To investigate the relationship between adiponectin gene SNP+45 polymorphism and coronary heart disease (CHD) in south China Han population. METHODS: The nondiabetic CHD patients diagnosed by the coronary angiography were selected as CHD subjects (153 cases), and 73 healthy adults served as normal control subjects. The polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed to identify the distribution pattern of adiponectin gene SNP+45 in all subjects. The levels of plasma adiponectin were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The frequency of T/G + G/G genotype and G allele in CHD patients were significantly higher than those in control subjects (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the adiponectin gene SNP+45 T/G+G/G genotype had a strong positive association with CHD (OR: 2.132, 95.0% CI: 1.034-4.397, P＜0.05). The plasma adiponectin was negatively associated with CHD (OR: 0.868, 95.0% CI: 0.785-0.959, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The T/G+ G/G genotype was a possible risk factor for CHD in southern China Han population.     

Relationship between 936C/T polymorphism in 3’-untranslated region of vascular endothelial growth factor gene and diabetic retinopathy in China

AIM: To study the distribution of 936C/T polymorphism in 3’- untranslated region of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene in Chinese Han population and to analyze the relationship between the polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus recruited in this study were divided into NPDR group (non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy), PDR group (proliferative diabetic retinopathy) and DM (diabetes without retinopathy) group. The normal control group consisted of 120 subjects. Genotypes were identified by PCR-RFLP among all the subjects, while other clinical parameters were measured. Serum levels of VEGF were tested by the method of ELISA. RESULTS: The frequencies of both genotype CC and allele C were significantly higher in NPDR group and PDR group than those in NC group (²=9.934, ²=4.899, P<0.05 and ²=10.895, ²=5.714, P<0.05) and DM group (²=7.490, ²=4.448, P<0.05 and ²=8.333, ²=5.227, P<0.05). However, the frequencies of genotype (TT+CT) and allele T were significantly lower in NPDR group and PDR group than those in NC group (²=9.934, ²=10.895, P<0.01 and ²=4.899, ²=5.714, P<0.05) and DM group (²=7.490, ²=8.333, P<0.01 and ²=4.448, ²=5.227, P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of glycohemoglobin(HbA1c), total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and plasma VEGF presented a positive correlation with DR, respectively, and the 936C/T mutation of VEGF exhibited a negative correlation with DR (β=-1.027, OR=0.343, P<0.01, CI: 0.157-0.723). CONCLUSION: Allele 936C of VEGF may be a genetic marker susceptible to DR, while allele 936T may be a protective genetic marker of DR. The 936C/T mutation of VEGF may be a protective factor against DR.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of TLR4 locus in Chinese Cantonese population

AIM: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was an important pathogen recognition receptor in the innate immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of TLR4 polymorphisms in the general population of China. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 191 unrelated healthy Chinese Cantonese individuals. The functional regions of TLR4 locus, including promoter region and all three exons with their surrounding intronic regions were amplified using polymerase chain reaction. After purified, the amplified products were directly sequenced on both strands. RESULTS: A total of eight single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected, five of which were novel. The most common SNP were -1607 C/T with the minor allele frequency of 0.283. Two nonsynonymous substitutions Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile, which were common in Caucasus, were not detected in Cantonese. Neutrality test revealed that TLR4 in Chinese Cantonese was not significantly deviated from the neutral model. CONCLUSION: This is the new finding on the distribution of TLR4 SNPs in the general population of China. It provides several ethnic specific SNPs for further disease association studies of TLR4 polymorphisms in Chinese populations.     

rAAV-mediated VLDLR gene transfection reduces tau hyperphosphorylation in hippocampus of type 2 diabetic rats

AIM: Abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease(AD), and tau protein was hyperphosphorylated in type 2 diabetes. The present study was designed to explore the phosphorylation level of tau in hippocampus of type 2 diabetes rats which interrupted by very low density lipoprotein receptor(VLDLR)gene transfection. METHODS: Wistar male rats were randomized into 3 groups. The control group(CTL)was fed with normal food. The T2DM group and T2DM mediated VLDLR gene group were on high sugar, high fat and high protein diet for 3 months. The plasma insulin level was measured by RIA method, and the plasma glucose was determined by glucose-oxidase method. Total tau level, the phosphorylation level of tau at individual phosphorylation sites and the level of VLDLR were analyzed by Western blotting. The activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3β, a key component of insulin signal transduction pathway and a known tau kinase, in the hippocampus of rats was determined by using ［γ-32P］-ATP and the specific peptide substrate. RESULTS: No significant difference of total tau level in hippocampus between T2DM group and T2DM mediated VLDLR gene group was observed. Tau protein in T2DM group was found to be more hyperphosphorylated at several AD-related phosphorylation sites(Ser214, Thr217, Ser396, Ser422 and Ser199/202)than that in CTL, while the immunoreaction at tau-1 site is weaker than that in CTL. VLDLR gene therapy reduced hyperphosphorylation sites of Thr217, Ser396, Ser422 and Ser199/202 of tau to almost the control level, but did not change the phosphorylation of Ser214 or Ser422 on tau. The expression of Ser214 was also observed by immunohistochemical assay. The phosphorylated tau modestly increased in hippocampus in T2DM group compared to CTL, but VLDLR gene treatment did not change the phosphorylation level. The phosphorylation of GSK-3β was decreased dramatically in the hippocampus in T2DM rats, and this phosphorylation was significantly increased after VLDLR gene treatment. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Raav mediated VLDLR gene treatment partially reverses tau hyperphosphorylation at several sites in T2DM rat hippocampus, which may mediate by inhibition of GSK-3β activity.     

Relationship between matrix metalloproteinase 2-735C→T genetic polymorphism in promoter region and coronary atherosclerosis

AIM: To investigate the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase 2 ( MMP-2 )-735C→T polymorphism in the promoter region and coronary atherosclerosis (CAS) in Han population of China. METHODS: This study was conducted with a CAS group including 309 patients confirmed by angiography and 311 control healthy subjects. Genotype of -735C→T functional promoter polymorphism of the MMP-2 gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The relationship between the polymorphism in MMP-2 gene and CAS was analyzed. RESULTS: The frequency of CC genotype (86.1%) in CAS group was significantly higher than that in control group (79.7%), but the frequency of CT+TT genotype (13.9%) in CAS group was significantly lower than that in control group (20.3%). The statistical difference between CAS group and controls was significant(χ²=4.398,P<0.05). The frequency of -735C in CAS group (92.6%) was higher than that in control group (89.1%) and the frequency of -735T in CAS group (7.4%) was lower than that in control group (10.9%), with the statistical significant difference (χ²=4.521, P<0.05). The degree of stenosis in coronary artery did not significantly relate to the MMP-2 gene -735C→T polymorphism in the promoter region. CONCLUSION: The genetic polymorphism in MMP-2 promoter region (-735C→T) is associated with the susceptibility to CAS in Han population of China. CC genotype and C allele may be a genetic marker. The -735C→T polymorphism may be useful as a predictor of CAS.     

Protein Z intron FG79A polymorphisms are not associated with coronary artery disease

AIM: To investigate the distribution of protein Z intron FG79A polymorphisms in Chinese and the associations with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: 148 patients were performed selected coronary angiography and more than one major coronary vessel with at least 50% stenosis was defined as CAD. The control group consisted of 147 subjects. The protein Z intron FG79A polymorphisms were studied by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism and parts of PCR products were sequenced. RESULTS: Protein Z intron FG79A polymorphisms were first recovered in Chinese, and the frequencies of G and A alleles were 44.24% and 55.76%, respectively. The frequencies of two alleles were not significantly different between patients and controls. There was no significant difference in protein Z intron FG79A genotype distribution among patients with one, two or three stenosed vessels. No significant difference was found among the frequencies of the three genotypes between both acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and non-ACS. CONCLUSION: Protein Z intron FG79A polymorphisms are present in Chinese. Protein Z intron FG79A polymorphisms were not associated with CAD and ACS.     

Association of OPG gene single nucleotide polymorphisms with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis in Chinese Han population

AIM：To investigate the association of osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 163A/G (rs3102735) and 245T/G (rs3134069), with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese Han population. METHODS：A total of 205 patients with RA and 171 healthy control subjects were enrolled into this study. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism and subsequently confirmed by DNA sequencing. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the risk genotypes and alleles. RESULTS：OPG gene polymorphisms 163A/G and 245T/G were conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The statistical differences in the genotypes of AA, AG and GG at 163A/G locus were found in RA and controls. The G allele was associated with an increased risk of RA, with OR of 1.219 (95％ CI: 1.066~2.339). No significant difference was observed between RA group and control group with respect to genotypic and allelic frequencies of OPG gene 245T/G (P>0.05）. CONCLUSION：The OPG gene 163A/G SNP may be associated with RA susceptibility, and G allele may be the risk factor for developing RA.     

Association between platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb polymorphism and coronary heart disease in Han people

AIM: To investigate the genotype distributions of HPA-3 in Han people from Beijing and Hebei province, and to study the association of the platelet glycoprotein IIb polymorphism with coronary heart disease (CHD).METHODS: Two hundred and twelve patients with coronary heart disease and 106 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. The number of occlusive coronary artery was performed in all subjects. The genotypes of HPA-3 were determined by TaqMan probe technology. RESULTS: In CHD patients (older than 45 years) carriers of HPA-3b were over- represented compared with healthy controls (P<0.05). The prevalence of HPA-3 genetic variants had no difference in CHD patients of different numbers of occlusive coronary artery. Results were statistically evaluated with Binary Logistic regression, which showed the HPA-3 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk for CHD(OR: 2.105).CONCLUSION: The HPA-3 polymorphism of GP IIb is the risk factor of CHD in Han people, especially in patients older than 45 years.     

Distribution characteristics of polymorphisms of interleukin-22 gene in Guangxi population and their association with serum lipid levels

AIM: To investigate the distribution characteristics of interleukin-22 (IL-22) gene rs2227485C/T and rs2227491A/G polymorphisms in Guangxi people and the distribution differences with other ethnic groups, and to explore the difference levels of common lipid indexes in different genotypes. METHODS: SNaPshot technique and DNA sequencing were used in 280 Guangxi persons to examine IL-22 genotypes and to analyzed the distribution frequencies of allele and genotype in these sites. The distribution frequencies in different sexes, and the differences between groups and diffe-rence levels of common lipid indexes in different genotypes were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Three genotypes of CC, CT and TT were found in rs2227485C/T with the frequency distribution of 17.1%, 49.3% and 33.6%, respectively. No significant difference between different sexes of each genotype and allele frequency in the Guangxi population was observed (P>0.05). Compared with the distribution frequencies of genotype and allele in HapMap-TSI, HapMap-HCB, HapMap-JPT and HapMap-MEX, those in Guangxi population showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Three genotypes of AA, AG and GG were found in rs2227491A/G with the frequency distribution of 16.1%, 52.8% and 31.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference between different sexes of each genotype and allele frequency in the Guangxi population (P>0.05). The significant differences of genotype frequencies among Guangxi population, HapMap-TSI, HapMap-JPT and HapMap-MEX were detected (P<0.05). Compared with the other 4 populations, allele frequencies in Guangxi population had significant difference (P <0.05). There were significant differences in the levels of HDL-C and LDL-C among the 3 genotypes of rs2227491A/G. The level of HDL-C had difference between AG/AA genotype and GG genotype. In addition, the level of LDL-C had difference between AG/GG genotype and AA genotype (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: rs2227485C/T and rs2227491A/G polymorphisms of IL-22 gene have differences in different populations. The rs2227491A/G polymorphism may be associated with serum lipid levels.     

Association of Fas promoter-670 polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus in southern Chinese

AIM: To investigate whether Fas promoter-670 polymorphism is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) in Southern Chinese. METHODS: 103 SLE patients and 110 controls were studied. Fas promoter -670 polymorphism was typed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found when Fas promoter -670 genotype and allele frequencies were compared between the SLE and the controls. Similarly, no significant differences were seen between the male and female SLE and the controls, the SLE with lupus nephritis (LN) and the controls, the SLE with LN and the SLE without LN. CONCLUSION: Fas promoter -670 polymorphism does not appear to be associated with susceptibility to SLE in Southern Chinese.     

Association of Pro12Ala polymorphism in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 with gastric cancers in China

AIM: To study the relationship among peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 (PPAR γ2) gene Pro12Ala polymorphism, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, and gastric cancer in China.METHODS: 104 consecutive patients with gastric cancer and 104 age-and sex-matched controls from Guangdong Province of southern China were examined. PPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP). H. pylori status of subjects was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-H. pylori IgG. RESULTS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly higher in gastric cancer patients than that in control (81.7% vs 59.6%, 2=12.27, P<0.01; OR=3.0, 95% CI=1.6-5.7). The CC, CG and GG genotype frequency of PPARγ2 gene in Chinese common people was 91.3%, 8.7%, 0 and the G allele frequency was 4.3%. The frequency of PPARγ2 G (Ala12) allele was significantly higher among patients with gastric cancer (19.2%) than that in control subjects (8.7%; P<0.05, OR=2.5, 95% CI=1.1-5.8). Moreover, the combination of PPARγ2 G allele and H. pylori infection substantially increased the risk of gastric cancer (P<0.01, OR=8.9, 95% CI=2.2-35.7). CONCLUSION: PPARγ2 G allele is associated with gastric cancer in China. The risk of developing gastric cancer is significantly increased in the PPARγ2 G allele carriers with H. pylori infection.     

Serum lipid levels and ApoB gene Xba I and 3'-VNTR polymorphisms in longevous elderly Han population in Zhejiang

AIM: To study the levels of serum lipids and the effects of apolipoprotein B (ApoB) gene Xba I-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and 3'-variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism on serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in longevous elderly Han population in Zhejiang. METHODS: Physical and laboratory examinations were performed on longevous elders, children of longevous elders, normal control people and children of non-longevous elders, and the Xba I-RFLP and 3'-VNTR polymorphism in ApoB gene were genotyped. RESULTS: The serum levels of triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and ApoB were negatively correlated with longevity (P<0.05), while the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was positively correlated with longevity (P<0.01). The levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C and ApoB were higher and the HDL-C level was lower in the people with Xba I-RFLP X⁺X^- genotype than those in the people with Xba I-RFLP X^-X^- genotype (P<0.01). The levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and ApoB were higher and the HDL-C level was lower in the people with 3'-VNTR large allele than those in the people with 3'-VNTR minor allele (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: High TG, LDL-C and ApoB levels and low HDL-C level are not conductive to longevity. Serum lipid levels in the people with Xba I-RFLP X^-X^- genotype or 3'-VNTR minor allele are healthy and conductive to longevity.