Association between triglyceride-rich lipoprotein remnant receptor polymorphisms and lipid traits

Objectives: The metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) is, in p art, mediated by lipoprotein receptors (such as low density lipoprotein rec eptor-related protein [LRP] and very low density lipoprotein [VLDL] recepto rs), which recognize TRL remnants after specific binding with apolipoprotei n E. The purpose of this study was to explore the association of the geneti c polymorphisms of remnant receptors with lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipopr otein levels including remnant-like particle-cholesterol (RLP-C). Design and Methods: Using polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA, VLDL rec eptor tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism, LRP trinucleotide repeat polymor phism, and LRP exon 3 polymorphism were analyzed in normal adults (control group: n = 161)and in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD group: n = 102). Results: The allelic distributions of VLDL receptor triple repeat polymorph ism, LRP tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism, and LRP exon 3 polymorphism i n Koreans were similar to those of Japanese but were significantly differen t from those of other ethnic: groups. There were no significant differences in the allele frequencies of the polymorphisms between the control and CAD groups. VLDL receptor polymorphism in the control group (p = 0.0403) and L RP exon 3 polymorphism in the CAD group (p = 0.0459) showed significant ass ociations with lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrated significant inte rracial distribution of remnant receptor polymorphisms. There was no associ ation between the remnant receptor polymorphisms and the RLP-C levels. Howe ver, the polymorphisms showed a significant association with Lp(a), which m ay suggest that the Lp(a) metabolism is in part mediated by the uptake thro ugh the remnant receptors. Copyright (C) 2000 The Canadian Society of Clini cal Chemists.