Influence of SCARB1 polymorphisms on serum lipids of hypercholesterolemicindividuals treated with atorvastatin

ABSTRACT

Background: The SR-BI is a key component on the cholesterol metabolism. Polymorphisms in the SR-BI gene (SCARB1) were related with variations on plasma lipoprotein profile and other risk factors for cardiovasculardisease. We tested the relationship of 3 SCARB1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with hypercholesterolemia in a Brazilian population and whether these variants can influence lipid-lowering responseto atorvastatin. Methods: c.4GNA, c.726+54CNT and c.1050CNT SNPs and serum concentrations of lipid and apolipoproteins were evaluated in 147 hypercholesterolemic (HC) and 185 normolipidemic (NL) unrelated Brazilian subjects. HC patients were treated with atorvastatin (10 mg/day/4 weeks).Results: Frequencies of SCARB1 polymorphisms were similar between the HC and NL groups (pN0.05). TheT allele for c.726+54CNT was associated with higher LDL-c in NL and with higher apoB and apoB/apoAI inHC (pb0.05). HC individuals carrying c.1050C allele carriers (CC and CT genotypes) had lower change of totalcholesterol, LDL-c, apoB and apoB/apoAI ratio (pb0.05) than the TT genotype carriers in response to atorvastatin. Conclusion: The SCARB1 polymorphisms are relatedwith variations in serumlipids in the Brazilian population and c.1050CNT SNP is associated with lipid-lowering atorvastatin response.