BACKGROUND: Information about the association of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) gene polymorphism at the 1784G>C locus and serum lipid parameters is limited and contradictory. The present study was undertaken to compare the difference in the SREBP-2 gene polymorphism and its association with serum lipid levels between the Guangxi Hei Yi Zhuang and Han populations. METHODS: Genotyping of the SREBP-2 gene in 768 subjects of Hei Yi Zhuang and 798 participants of Han Chinese aged 15 to 89 was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: The frequency of G allele was 88.9% in Hei Yi Zhuang and 84.7% in Han (P < 0.001). The frequencies of GG, GC, and CC genotypes were 78.9%, 20.1%, and 1.0% in Hei Yi Zhuang, and 70.4%, 28.6%, and 1.0% in Han (P < 0.001), respectively. The frequencies of G allele and GG genotype in Han, but not in Hei Yi Zhuang, were higher in males than in females, or in high total cholesterol (TC >5.18 mmol/L) subgroup than in normal TC subgroup (P < 0.01 for all). In high TC subgroup, TC, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B levels in Han were lower in GG genotype than in GC/CC genotype (P < 0.05-0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of the SREBP-2 gene polymorphism at the 1784G>C locus between the Hei Yi Zhuang and Han populations. The individuals carrying the G allele have more favorable lipid profiles than those carrying the C allele in Han but not in Hei Yi Zhuang.
BACKGROUND: Information about the association of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) gene polymorphism at the 1784G>C locus and serum lipid parameters is limited and contradictory. The present study was undertaken to compare the difference in the SREBP-2 gene polymorphism and its association with serum lipid levels between the Guangxi Hei Yi Zhuang and Han populations. METHODS: Genotyping of the SREBP-2 gene in 768 subjects of Hei Yi Zhuang and 798 participants of Han Chinese aged 15 to 89 was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: The frequency of G allele was 88.9% in Hei Yi Zhuang and 84.7% in Han (P < 0.001). The frequencies of GG, GC, and CC genotypes were 78.9%, 20.1%, and 1.0% in Hei Yi Zhuang, and 70.4%, 28.6%, and 1.0% in Han (P < 0.001), respectively. The frequencies of G allele and GG genotype in Han, but not in Hei Yi Zhuang, were higher in males than in females, or in high total cholesterol (TC >5.18 mmol/L) subgroup than in normal TC subgroup (P < 0.01 for all). In high TC subgroup, TC, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B levels in Han were lower in GG genotype than in GC/CC genotype (P < 0.05-0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of the SREBP-2 gene polymorphism at the 1784G>C locus between the Hei Yi Zhuang and Han populations. The individuals carrying the G allele have more favorable lipid profiles than those carrying the C allele in Han but not in Hei Yi Zhuang.