Genetic variations of the hepatic lipase gene in Korean patients with coronary artery disease

Objectives: To investigate the association between the HL gene (LIPC) polym orphism, plasma lipid levels and coronary artery disease (CAD). Design and methods: One hundred thirty-seven subjects with CAD and 124 age- matched controls were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were analyzed for LIPC genotyping by enzyme digestion. Results: The allele frequencies of the three polymorphisms in the LIPC gene were not significantly different between the controls and CAD patients. Th e + allele of the -514 promoter polymorphism was associated with higher tot al cholesterol (p = 0.05), apolipoprotein (apo) Al (p = 0.04) levels in the men of the normal group, and the apoB level (p = 0.03) in the women of the CAD group without allele effect. The allele frequencies of the -250 and -5 14 promoter polymorphisms of Koreans were significantly different from thos e of the white and African American populations studied (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The -514 promoter polymorphism may fluctuate on the lipid leve ls due to linkage disequilibria with other polymorphisms of the LIPC gene o r nearby genes. The difference of the -250 promoter allele frequencies amon g the different populations may partially explain the variation of the HDL levels in ethnic groups. To elucidate the more exact associations of LIPC p olymorphism with the plasma lipid levels, the precise biochemical mechanism s of the LIPC alleles are required. Copyright (C) 2000 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists.