ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of R219K and M883I polymorphisms of ATP binding cassette transporter 1 gene with lipid metabolism and the susceptibility to coronary atherosclerotic heart disease in Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genotypes were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and Primer introduced restriction analysis-PCR techniques, respectively, in 248 unrelated CHD-free controls and 224 CHD cases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Smoking, high blood pressure and high serum glucose were independent risk factors for CHD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals carrying at least one 219K variant allele (RK + KK genotypes) had a significantly decreased risk for CHD (adjusted OR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.27-0.61) compared with the wild-type genotype (219RR) and only 883II homozygotes displayed a decreased risk for CHD (adjusted OR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.26-1.11) compared with 883MM and 883MI genotypes. Furthermore, compared with individuals with both wild genotypes (219 RR and 883 MM or 883 MI) other individuals with all other assembly genotypes had a significantly decreased risk (adjusted OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.26-0.60). Plasma HDL-C in 219K allele carriers were markedly higher than those in 219 K non-carriers in controls (P = 0.037).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ABCA1 R219K polymorphism may be involved in the variability of serum HDL-C and the susceptibility to coronary artery disease.</p>