[Screening for low-density lipoprotein receptor gene mutations in familial hypercholesterolemia Chinese].
OBJECTIVE
To screen the mutations of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene in Chinese familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients.


METHODS
7 patients with clinical phenotype of homozygous FH and their parents were investigated for mutations in all the eighteen exons of LDLR gene. Screening was carried out using PCR-SSCP and direct DNA sequencing and LDLR gene mutation database was searched to identify the alteration. In addition, the apolipoprotein B gene (apo B) was screened for known mutations (R3500Q) that caused familial defective apo B100 (FDB) with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).


RESULTS
Nine mutations in the LDLR gene were identified in the FH patients. All the mutations except C255R have not been published in the LDLR gene mutation database. No mutation of apo B100 (R3500Q) was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Chinese FH patients may have specific spectrum and regional difference of LDLR gene mutations. Apolipoprotein B-100 gene mutation might not be the main cause of hypercholesterolemia patients in China.
Pang
Qing-Feng
QF
Department of Pathophysiology, Xuzhou Medical College, Jiangsu Province 221002, China. qfpang@xzmc.edu.cn
Wang
Ying
Y
Xu
Ming
M
Ding
Lei
L
Dong
Wei
W
Mao
Pei-Juan
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics*
D011973:Receptors, LDL