Genetic loci associated with lipid concentrations and cardiovascular risk factors in the Korean population.
BACKGROUND
Dyslipidaemia, a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is strongly influenced by genetic factors.


OBJECTIVE
To identify genetic factors affecting blood lipid concentrations and CVD risk factors in the Korean population by a candidate gene association analysis.


METHODS
21 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have been reported as associated with lipid concentrations in people of European ancestry were selected and their associations with CVD risk factors in Korean populations assessed. Genotype data from 7616 subjects without diabetes or lipid-lowering drugs were obtained from the Korean Association Resource (KARE) project.


RESULTS
After adjustment for age and gender, five SNPs were identified that were associated with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C; rs4420638: p=2.09×10⁻⁷), 11 SNPs with low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C; rs12654264: p=1.29×10⁻⁸) and eight SNPs with triglycerides (TG; rs4420638: p=1.80×10⁻⁶). Through analysis of multiple associations with lipid traits, after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption and hypertension, five SNPs (rs693, rs17321515, rs174547, rs688, rs4420638) were identified that were strongly associated with at least two of the following: HDL-C, LDL-C and TG. Of these, rs693, which lies in the APOB gene, was also significantly associated with the homoeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (p=6.68×10⁻⁶) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (p=2.34×10⁻⁶), and rs174547, which lies in the FADS1 gene and was significantly associated with fasting plasma glucose (p=1.48×10⁻⁶).


CONCLUSIONS
Several SNPs associated with lipid traits and CVD risk factors were identified. These findings may form the basis for further investigations to identify the causative polymorphisms in dyslipidaemia and CVD.
Center for Biomedical Sciences, National Institute of Health, Seoul, South Korea.
Mi-Hyun
MH
Park
NamHee
N
Kim
Jong-Young
JY
Lee
Hyun-Young
HY
Park
D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D056426:Genetic Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; C000716847:FADS1 protein, human