title: Genetic and environmental regulation of inflammatory CVD biomarkers Lp-PLA2 and IgM anti-PC.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We set out to investigate the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effect on two inflammatory CVD biomarkers; lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) and anti-phosphorylcholine IgM (anti-PC). Their relationships and possible co-regulation with other established CVD biomarkers are also examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lp-PLA(2) activity (N=1600) and anti-PC (N=2036) levels were measured in elderly Swedish twins. Correlation analyses and heritability estimation were conducted by structural equation modeling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We attribute 0.37 of the variance of Lp-PLA(2) and 0.40 of anti-PC variance to genetic variance. In addition, a bivariate heritability of 0.33, 0.35 and 0.36 could be detected for levels of Lp-PLA(2) together with ApoB, total cholesterol and LDL, respectively. Anti-PC was only weakly related to other biomarkers of CVD, which may suggest a more independent role of anti-PC as a biomarker.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this large sample, Lp-PLA(2) activity has lower heritability and higher environmental regulation than previously reported. Anti-PC levels are partly influenced by dominance genetics and appear to be regulated independently of more established CVD biomarkers.
authors: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Box 281, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden. Iffat.Rahman@ki.se
authors: Iffat
authors: I
authors: Rahman
authors: Rajai
authors: R
authors: Atout
authors: Nancy L
authors: NL
authors: Pedersen
authors: Ulf
authors: U
authors: de Faire
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Frostegård
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Ninio
authors: Anna M
authors: AM
authors: Bennet
authors: Patrik K E
authors: PK
authors: Magnusson