Genetic variation at the phospholipid transfer protein locus affects its activity and high-density lipoprotein size and is a novel marker of cardiovascular disease susceptibility.
BACKGROUND
In contrast to clear associations between variants in genes participating in low-density lipoprotein metabolism and cardiovascular disease risk, such associations for high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-related genes are not well supported by recent large studies. We aimed to determine whether genetic variants at the locus encoding phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), a protein involved in HDL remodeling, underlie altered PLTP activity, HDL particle concentration and size, and cardiovascular disease risk.


RESULTS
We assessed associations between 6 PLTP tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms and PLTP activity in 2 studies (combined n=384) and identified 2 variants that show reproducible associations with altered plasma PLTP activity. A gene score based on these variants is associated with lower hepatic PLTP transcription (P=3.2x10(-18)) in a third study (n=957) and with an increased number of HDL particles of smaller size (P=3.4x10(-17)) in a fourth study (n=3375). In a combination of 5 cardiovascular disease case-control studies (n=4658 cases and 11 459 controls), a higher gene score was associated with a lower cardiovascular disease risk (per-allele odds ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.90 to 0.98; P=1.2x10(-3); odds ratio for highest versus lowest gene score, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.55 to 0.86; P=1.0x10(-3)).


CONCLUSIONS
A gene score based on 2 PLTP single nucleotide polymorphisms is associated with lower PLTP transcription and activity, an increased number of HDL particles, smaller HDL size, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. These findings indicate that PLTP is a proatherogenic entity and suggest that modulation of specific elements of HDL metabolism may offer cardiovascular benefit.
Vergeer
Menno
M
Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands. m.vergeer@amc.uva.nl
Boekholdt
S Matthijs
SM
Sandhu
Manjinder S
MS
Ricketts
Sally L
SL
Wareham
Nicholas J
NJ
Brown
Morris J
MJ
de Faire
Ulf
U
Leander
Karin
K
Gigante
Bruna
B
Kavousi
Maryam
M
Hofman
Albert
A
Uitterlinden
Andre G
AG
van Duijn
Cornelia M
CM
Witteman
Jacqueline C M
JC
Jukema
J Wouter
JW
Schadt
Eric E
EE
van der Schoot
Ellen
E
Kastelein
John J P
JJ
Khaw
Kay-Tee
KT
Dullaart
Robin P F
RP
van Tol
Arie
A
Trip
Mieke D
MD
Dallinga-Thie
Geesje M
GM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors
D005819:Genetic Markers; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; C493430:PLTP protein, human; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins