genetic characterization of familial hypercholesterolemia in Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Familial hypercholesterolemia [FH] is caused by mutations in the genes coding for the low-density lipoprotein receptor [LDLR], apolipoprotein B-100, or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 [PCSK9]. In this study, a molecular analysis of LDLR gene and APOB gene was performed in a group of 17 unrelated patients from Pakistan. All patients were clinically diagnosed with definite or possible hypercholesterolemia according to a uniform protocol and internationally accepted WHO criteria. Mutational analysis included all exons, exon-intron boundaries and the promoter sequence of the LDLR, and fragments of exon 26 and exon 29 of APOB. In our study, SNPs within LDLR exon 12, rs688 and LDLR exon 13, rs5925 were identified. We identified associations between SNPs and increased levels of cholesterol in Pakistani population. We failed to detect polymorphisms in the APOB gene