BACKGROUND: The importance of apolipoprotein A-V (APOAV) gene variants in the determination of plasma triglyceride levels in humans has been proven in several population studies. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether APOAV gene variants are associated with the different plasma cholesterol fractions. METHODS: The influence of APOAV polymorphisms (T-1131>C, Ser19>Trp and Val153>Met) on plasma cholesterol fractions was evaluated in 1191 men and 1368 women representatively selected from the Czech population. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels were analyzed. RESULTS: The T-1131>C variation in the APOAV gene was found to affect plasma non-HDL cholesterol, showing significantly higher levels in C-1131 carriers than in T/T-1131 homozygotes. This association was observed in both men (4.61+/-1.09 mmol/L in C-1131 carriers versus 4.47+/-1.07 mmol/L in T/T-1131 homozygotes; P<0.01) and women (4.46+/-1.22 mmol/L in C-1131 carriers versus 4.24+/-1.17 mmol/L in T/T-1131 homozygotes; P<0.01). Interestingly, when low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (obtained by the Friedewald formula) or HDL cholesterol levels were analyzed, no significant association was detected. CONCLUSION: The APOAV gene variant T-1131>C may play a role not just in the genetic determination of triglyceride levels but may also influence plasma levels of non-HDL cholesterol.

Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine Prague Czech Republic

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