Association between the cholesteryl ester transfer protein TaqI-detectable B polymorphism and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration in Saudis.
Plasma concentrations of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol are low in the Saudi Arabian population. A B polymorphism at the CETP (cholesteryl ester protein transfer) locus that is detectable with the restriction enzyme Taq I is a genetic determinant of the plasma HDL cholesterol concentration. We assessed the relationship between the Taq I B CETP polymorphism and lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations in a study sample of 335 Saudi residents. The Taq I B1 and B2 allele frequencies were 0.54 and 0.46 respectively, similar to those in other populations. HDL cholesterol levels in B2B2 homozygotes were significantly higher than in B1B1 homozygotes [1.01 (0.3) compared with 0.92 (0.2) mmol/l; mean (S.D.); P=0.03]. There was also a significant difference between the B2B2 and B1B1 homozygotes with regard to apolipoprotein AI concentration [123.6 (16.4) compared with 113.7 (13.9) mg/dl; P=0.04]. This genetic variation was independent of metabolic risk factors known to influence HDL cholesterol levels. The allele frequency of the Taq I B CETP polymorphism and its relatively modest impact on HDL cholesterol concentrations argue against an important role for this allele, or for strongly linked loci, in determining the low levels of HDL cholesterol seen in the Saudi population.
Al-Daghri
Nassr M
NM
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham B9 5SS, UK. aldaghri2000@hotmail.com
Al-Attas
Omer
O
Patel
Ashok
A
Belyaev
Nikolai D
ND
Bartlett
William A
WA
Jones
Alan F
AF
Kumar
Sudesh
S
Bain
Steve C
SC
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000032:analysis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012529:Saudi Arabia
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; C506642:CETP protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D006023:Glycoproteins