Human SA gene polymorphisms are associated with non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in postmenopausal women: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the associations between polymorphisms of the human SA (SAH) gene, an acyl-CoA synthetase gene, with dyslipidemia and phenotypes of the insulin resistance syndrome in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-two postmenopausal women were recruited for the study. Each subject received anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, fasting sampling for lipids, and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test for insulin resistance. Genotypes of two polymorphisms in the promoter region (c.-962ins/del, c.-451G>A), one missense variant (c.1077G>C, p.K359N) in exon 8, and one in intron 12 (A>G) of the SAH gene, were determined.


RESULTS
There were significant differences in genetic distribution of the SAH gene promoter I/D polymorphism between the two groups of subjects by non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels (p=0.004). The subjects with the DD genotype was associated with high levels of non-HDL-C (>160 mg/dL) as compared with the ID or II genotypes (p=0.002). Furthermore, three haplotypes were constructed based on the promoter I/D and the exon 8 G/C polymorphisms. Homozygosity for SAH haplotype 3 was associated with increased adiposity, insulin resistance, and elevated levels of non-HDL-C in the post menopausal women. The subjects with haplotype 3 had double the risk to have higher non-HDL-C levels than those with haplotype 1.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the polymorphisms of the SAH gene are associated with non-HDL-C levels in postmenopausal women. Further studies with larger sample sizes or different populations are warranted to confirm our preliminary findings.
Lin
Ming-Wei
MW
Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, and Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. mwlin@ym.edu.tw
Hwu
Chii-Min
CM
Liou
Teh-Ling
TL
Hsiao
Li-Chuan
LC
Ho
Low-Tone
LT
D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D002784:Cholesterol; C487181:ACSM3 protein, human; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases