Significant association of ABCG8:D19H gene polymorphism with hypercholesterolemia and insulin resistance

J Hum Genet. 2008;53(8):757-763. doi: 10.1007/s10038-008-0310-2. Epub 2008 Jun 26.

Abstract

The absorption efficiency of cholesterol is closely correlated to dietary phytosterol content and determined by genetic factors. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters ABCG5 and ABCG8 act as a sterol efflux pump to regulate the absorption of cholesterol and phytosterol. The levels of cholesterol and phytosterol associated with a Chinese diet are very different from those associated with a Western diet. This study aims to explore the association between serum total cholesterol/LDL-C levels and ABCG5/ABCG8 polymorphisms in a Taiwanese population consuming an ordinary Chinese diet. A total of 1,046 subjects (894 men and 152 women) were recruited in a hospital-based health check-up center in Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. Five nonsynonymous polymorphisms of Q604E (ABCG5), D19H, C54Y, T400 K and A632 V (ABCG8) were analyzed by TaqMan genotyping assay. Analysis showed that the D19H polymorphism of the ABCG8 gene was significantly associated with serum total cholesterol, LDL-C levels and HOMA-IR index. Adjusting for sex and age, subjects with the D19H (GC) genotype were significantly associated with a threefold higher risk of high cholesterol and LDL-C levels than subjects with D19 (GG). These results suggest that the D19H polymorphism of ABCG8 could be considered a susceptible gene marker indicating an increased likelihood of developing high cholesterol and LDL-C levels in Taiwanese consuming an ordinary Chinese diet. It is supposed that the coexistence of higher insulin resistance and hypercholesterolemia for carriers of the D19H polymorphism may result in a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 8
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics*
  • Aspartic Acid / genetics
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Female
  • Histidine / genetics
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / genetics*
  • Insulin Resistance / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • ABCG8 protein, human
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 8
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Histidine