title: The hepatic lipase gene C-480T polymorphism in the development of early coronary atherosclerosis: the Helsinki Sudden Death Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The T allele of the hepatic lipase (HL) C-480T polymorphism was previously found to be associated with lower post-heparin plasma HL activity, atherosclerosis and risk of coronary artery disease. We studied the association of HL C-480T polymorphism with the extent of atherosclerosis at vessel-wall level in an autopsy series of middle-aged men.
  
  
  METHODS
  An autopsy cohort of 700 Caucasian Finnish men aged 33-70 years (mean 53 years), which comprised two autopsy series, collected 10 years apart during 1981-82 and 1991-92, were analysed. Areas of coronary wall covered with fatty streaks and fibrotic and complicated lesions were measured using computer-assisted planimetry and related to HL C-480T genotypes (CC, CT, and TT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant age-by-genotype interaction on the mean percentage area of fatty streaks (P = 0.01). The HL C-480T polymorphism was a significant explanatory factor for fatty streak area in men under 53 years of age with or without age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, apolipoprotein E genotype, and series number as covariates. Men carrying the TT genotype had two times larger areas of fatty streaks compared to the CC carriers (8.8% vs. 4.3%, P = 0.009). However, this association disappeared in men over 53 years. The areas of more advanced atherosclerotic lesions did not vary significantly among the genotype groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the HL C-480T polymorphism affects the formation of early coronary atherosclerotic lesions in men in their early middle age.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Atherosclerosis Genetics, Centre for Laboratory Medicine, Tampere University Hospital and Medical School, University of Tampere, Finland. loyufa@uta.fi
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehtimäki
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rontu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ilveskoski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goebeler
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kajander
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mikkelsson
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Viiri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perola
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Karhunen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C504173:LIPC protein, human; D008049:Lipase