Population differences in allele frequencies at the OLR1 locus may suggest geographic disparities in cardiovascular risk events.
BACKGROUND
Several studies have demonstrated a link between cardiovascular disease (CVD) susceptibility and the genetic background of populations. Endothelial activation and dysfunction induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is one of the key steps in the initiation of atherosclerosis. The oxidized low density lipoprotein (lectin-like) receptor 1 (OLR1) gene is the main receptor of ox-LDL. We have previously characterized two polymorphisms (rs3736235 and rs11053646) associated with the risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI).


OBJECTIVE
Given their clinical significance, it is of interest to know the distribution of these variants in populations from different continents.


METHODS
A total of 1229 individuals from 17 different African, Asian and European populations was genotyped for the two considered markers.


RESULTS
The high frequencies of ancestral alleles in South-Saharan populations is concordant with the African origin of our species. The results highlight that African populations are closer to Asians, and clearly separated from the Europeans.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm significant genetic structuring among populations and suggest a possible basis for varying susceptibility to CVD among groups correlated with the geographical location of populations linked with the migrations out of Africa, or with different lifestyle.
Predazzi
Irene M
IM
Department of Biopathology and Diagnostic Imaging, Section of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier 1, Rome, Italy. irenemartapredazzi@yahoo.com
Martínez-Labarga
Cristina
C
Vecchione
Lucia
L
Mango
Ruggiero
R
Ciccacci
Cinzia
C
Amati
Francesca
F
Ottoni
Claudio
C
Crawford
Michael H
MH
Rickards
Olga
O
Romeo
Francesco
F
Novelli
Giuseppe
G
D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D044382:Population Groups / Q000235:genetics*; D051127:Scavenger Receptors, Class E / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
C495137:OLR1 protein, human; D051127:Scavenger Receptors, Class E