Associations of three lipoprotein lipase gene polymorphisms, lipid profiles and coronary artery disease.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays a central role in lipoprotein metabolism by hydrolyzing the core triglycerides (TGs) of circulating chylomicrons and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). The effects of LPL polymorphisms on lipid levels and coronary artery disease (CAD) have been inconsistent among studies and populations. To assess the lipid profiles and distributions of three LPL gene polymorphisms in Saudi patients with CAD, the HindIII, PvuII and Ser447Ter polymorphisms in the LPL gene were analyzed in 226 patients with CAD and 110 controls. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect LPL gene polymorphisms. The plasma lipid profiles of the patients were determined using standard enzymatic methods. Patients in the CAD group had significantly higher triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels than controls irrespective of the HindIII, PvuII or Ser447Ter genotype. Compared to the findings in controls, the HindIII TT, PvuII TC and Ser447Ter CC genotypes were associated with significantly reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in patients with CAD (P<0.0001). In summary, there are associations between LPL gene variants and high plasma TG, TC and LDL-C levels as well as low HDL-C levels.