THE -514 POLYMORPHISM IN THE HEPATIC LIPASE GENE (LIPC) DOES NOT INFLUENCE ANDROGEN-MEDIATED STIMULATION OF HEPATIC LIPASE ACTIVITY

The -514T allele of hepatic lipase is associated with increased high d ensity lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in men, but not in women. This o bservation suggests that the -514C to T polymorphism may diminish the response of hepatic lipase to androgens. To test this hypothesis, five -514T and five -514C homozygous men were treated with the anabolic st eroid stanozolol for 6 days. The mean increase in hepatic lipase activ ity was similar iu the two groups (45 +/- 10 vs. 51 +/- 10 mmol.hr(-1) . l(-1), P = 0.5). To evaluate the association between the -514 polymo rphism and hepatic lipase activity at different physiological androgen concentrations, hepatic lipase genotypes and activities were measured in 44 men and 40 premenopausal women. The effect of the -514T allele on hepatic lipase activity was significant and quantitatively similar in both sexes. These data indicate that the -514 polymorphism does not influence the response of hepatic Lipase activity to androgens, and t hat the effects of this polymorphism on hepatic lipase activity are in dependent of androgen action.