The Relationship of the C-514T Polymorphism of the Human Hepatic Lipase Gene Promoter with Plasma HDL-C Concentrations in Koreans

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hepatic lipase is a key enzyme in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) metabolism and may therefore influence the susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD). Furthermore, there seems to be genetic variation in the - 514T allele frequency among different races. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: To assess the - 514T allele frequency in Koreans, 99 subjects (54 patients with coronary artery disease & 45 normal controls) were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme digestion. The lipid profiles of the subjects were also obtained. RESULTS: The - 514T allele frequency was 0.33 in the CAD group and 0.41 in the normal controls, results which are higher than the equivalent reported for Caucasians. The plasma lipid profiles did not differ significantly between genotypes. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the Koreans in this study have a higher - 514T allele frequency than that reported for Caucasians. This elevation may be partly responsible for the higher HDL-C level in Koreans, although such polymorphism does not seem to significantly influence plasma HDL-C levels or CAD susceptibility.