The Association between genetic variations of CHI3L1, levels of the encoded glycoprotein YKL-40 and the lipid profile in a Danish population.
BACKGROUND
The inflammatory biomarker YKL-40 seems to play a role in atherosclerosis and is elevated in patients with obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the YKL-40 encoding gene, CHI3L1, are associated with inter-individual YKL-40 levels. One study has described an association between a promoter polymorphism of CHI3L1 and levels of low density lipoprotein. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of YKL-40 on lipid parameters by determining the association between polymorphisms of CHI3L1, serum YKL-40 and levels of the differentiated lipid profile in a Danish general population.


RESULTS
12 SNPs of CHI3L1 were genotyped, and serum YKL-40 and parameters of the lipid profile were measured in 2,656 Danes. Lipid profile and genotypes were available in another Danish population (n = 6,784) for replication. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased with increasing YKL-40 quartile (both p<0.0001), and YKL-40 correlated with triglyceride levels (β = 0.15, p<0.0001). Low density lipoprotein levels increased slightly from the 1(st) to the 3(rd) quartile (p = 0.006). The highest YKL-40 quartile was associated with a greater risk of hypercholesterolemia compared to the lowest YKL-40 quartile (odds ratio 1.36, p = 0.009). Minor homozygosity of rs12123883 was associated with higher triglyceride levels (p = 0.022) and a higher prevalence of low high density lipoprotein (p = 0.012), but these associations could not be confirmed in the replication population.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum YKL-40 correlates with triglyceride levels in a representative group of the general Danish population. No consistent associations between SNPs of CHI3L1 and lipid levels could be documented.
Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dept. of Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark. Stine.Brinkloev.Thomsen@.regionh.dk
Stine Brinkløv
SB
Thomsen
Camilla Noelle
CN
Rathcke
Tea
T
Skaaby
Allan
A
Linneberg
Henrik
H
Vestergaard
D054392:Adipokines / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000235:genetics; D037102:Lectins / Q000235:genetics*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
D054392:Adipokines; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D037102:Lectins; D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides