Association of two apolipoprotein A-I gene MspI polymorphisms with lipid and blood pressure levels.
BACKGROUND
Two MspI polymorphisms in the ApoA-I gene (G-75A and C83T) have been shown to be associated with plasma HDL-cholesterol levels.


METHODS
We used a PCR-based RFLP method to determine the association of these polymorphisms with lipid parameters in 271 non-diabetic, normotriglyceridaemic Chinese subjects, of whom 104 were patients with hypertension, with 10.2% having hypercholesterolaemia and the remainder were controls.


RESULTS
As expected, the hypertensive group had higher blood pressure and indices of obesity, and a more adverse lipid profile. No differences in the ApoA-I G-75A genotype or allele frequency distributions between the controls and patients were identified. However, there was a significantly lower frequency of the CT genotype (p=0.012) and T allele (p=0.011) in the affected subjects with hypercholesterolaemia or hypertension. Similarly, blood pressure and triglyceride levels were significantly lower and HDL-cholesterol levels significantly higher in the subjects with the CT genotype compared to those with the CC genotype (p<0.05). However, the G-75A genotypes did not appear to influence the lipid or blood pressure levels. The -75A allele frequency was higher in our healthy controls than an equivalent Caucasian population (31.1% vs. 18.3%, p<0.001), whereas the 83T allele frequency was similar between the healthy Chinese and Caucasian groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The 83T allele may be associated with a better lipid profile and blood pressure levels in this group of Chinese subjects.
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Yan Qing
YQ
Ma
G Neil
GN
Thomas
Brian
B
Tomlinson
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D006023:Glycoproteins; C021240:tissue-factor-pathway inhibitor 2; D004247:DNA