Introduction: Adiponectin demonstrates a protective role against the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. The –11377C > G, –11391G > A, and –11426A > G promoter polymorphisms of ADIPOQ gene influence the level of circulating adiponectin. We examined the level of total and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin in centenarians and associated it with biochemical parameters. We checked if the expression and concentration-modifying polymorphisms of ADIPOQ are associated with extreme longevity.
Material and methods: Total and HMW adiponectin were examined using ELISA in 40 female centenarians. The frequencies of the ADIPOQ polymorphisms were tested by restriction fragment length polymorphism in 148 centenarians, 414 young controls, in 207 myocardial infarction patients, and in 190 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.
Results: The mean concentration of total adiponectin in centenarians was 13.19 ± 1.37 mg/mL and of HMW adiponectin it was 9.17 ± 1.15 mg/mL. They were positively correlated with HDL (r = 0.4696, p = 0.0025 and r = 0.3912, p = 0.015, respectively), and negatively with BMI (r = –0.3702, p = 0.034 and r = –0.3963, p = 0.025) and triglycerides (r = –0.346, p = 0.028 and r = –0.3227, p = 0.045). A very rare AA genotype of the –11391G > A polymorphism was significantly more common in centenarians than in young controls (p = 0.026) and, while compared to the GG genotype, it was associated with a 2.4-fold higher mean concentration of total adiponectin (26.53 ± 13.29 mg/ mL v. 10.97 ± 4.28 mg/mL) and with an almost 3-fold higher mean HMW adiponectin (20.65 ± 12.72 mg/mL v. 7.36 ± 3.35 mg/mL).
Conclusions: Serum adiponectin concentration in female centenarians is associated with biochemical parameters that are favourable for cardiovascular risk. We suggest that adiponectin might be of importance for extreme longevity. (Endokrynol Pol 2012; 63 (6): 439–446)