title: Polymorphisms of the Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 gene in a Japanese population.
abstract: The Niemann-Pick C1 like 1 (NPC1L1) protein is a polytopic transmembrane protein responsible for dietary cholesterol absorption. Genetic variation in theNPC1L1gene affects cholesterol absorption and serum cholesterol levels. However,NCP1L1genotypes have not previously been invesigated. In this study, genotyping of theNPC1L1gene was examined in healthy individuals as well as patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A total of 541 individuals were enrolled in the study, including 80 patients with HCV hepatitis, 205 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 127 with Crohn's disease (CD). Genotyping was performed using TaqMan®SNP assays. Minor allelic frequencies of the 17345C>G (rs2072183) and 19031G>A (rs4720470) SNPs were found to be 0.40 and 0.30, respectively. No significant differences were detected in serum HCV levels in the 1735C>G or 19031G>A SNPs. The 1735C>G SNPs were not associated with total cholesterol (TC) levels in the healthy controls and/or HCV patients. However, statistically significant associations between the 1735GG variant and TC levels were detected in CD patients, with 1735GG carriers having the highest TC levels compared to the 1735CC and 1735CG carriers (P=0.048). Similar trends were noted in UC patients, but did not reach statistical significance (P= 0.19). The 19031G>A SNPs were not associated with TC levels in the healthy controls or patients. This study showed the allelic and genotypic distribution of 1735C>G and 19031G>ASNPs of theNPC1L1gene in a large number of subjects. The NPC1L1 1735GG variant may therefore be favorable for CD accompanied with malnutrition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tukinowa, Otsu;
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tukinowa, Otsu;
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imaeda
authors.affiliation: Division of Mucosal Immunology, Graduate School, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tukinowa, Otsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Mucosal Immunology, Graduate School, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tukinowa, Otsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Notogawa Hospital, Higashioumi;
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tukinowa, Otsu;
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiyama
authors.affiliation: Division of Mucosal Immunology, Graduate School, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tukinowa, Otsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andoh
keywords: cholesterol absorption; hepatitis C virus hepatitis; inflammatory bowel disease