Genetic variants influencing circulating lipid levels and risk of coronary artery disease

DM Waterworth, SL Ricketts, K Song… - … , and vascular biology, 2010 - Am Heart Assoc
DM Waterworth, SL Ricketts, K Song, L Chen, JH Zhao, S Ripatti, YS Aulchenko, W Zhang
Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 2010Am Heart Assoc
Objective—Genetic studies might provide new insights into the biological mechanisms
underlying lipid metabolism and risk of CAD. We therefore conducted a genome-wide
association study to identify novel genetic determinants of low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides.
Methods and Results—We combined genome-wide association data from 8 studies,
comprising up to 17 723 participants with information on circulating lipid concentrations. We …
Objective—Genetic studies might provide new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and risk of CAD. We therefore conducted a genome-wide association study to identify novel genetic determinants of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides.
Methods and Results—We combined genome-wide association data from 8 studies, comprising up to 17 723 participants with information on circulating lipid concentrations. We did independent replication studies in up to 37 774 participants from 8 populations and also in a population of Indian Asian descent. We also assessed the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at lipid loci and risk of CAD in up to 9 633 cases and 38 684 controls. We identified 4 novel genetic loci that showed reproducible associations with lipids (probability values, 1.6×10−8 to 3.1×10−10). These include a potentially functional SNP in the SLC39A8 gene for HDL-C, an SNP near the MYLIP/GMPR and PPP1R3B genes for LDL-C, and at the AFF1 gene for triglycerides. SNPs showing strong statistical association with 1 or more lipid traits at the CELSR2, APOB, APOE-C1-C4-C2 cluster, LPL, ZNF259-APOA5-A4-C3-A1 cluster and TRIB1 loci were also associated with CAD risk (probability values, 1.1×10−3 to 1.2×10−9).
Conclusion—We have identified 4 novel loci associated with circulating lipids. We also show that in addition to those that are largely associated with LDL-C, genetic loci mainly associated with circulating triglycerides and HDL-C are also associated with risk of CAD. These findings potentially provide new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and CAD risk.
Am Heart Assoc