Genetic regulation of serum phytosterol levels and risk of coronary artery disease.

Authors:
Daniel Teupser, Ronny Baber, Uta Ceglarek, Markus Scholz, Thomas Illig, Christian Gieger, Lesca M Holdt, Alexander Leichtle, Karin H Greiser, Dominik Huster, Patrick Linsel-Nitschke, Arne Schäfer, Peter S Braund, Laurence Tiret, Klaus Stark, Dorette Raaz-Schrauder, Georg M Fiedler, Wolfgang Wilfert, Frank Beutner, Stephan Gielen, Anika Grosshennig, Inke R König, Peter Lichtner, Iris M Heid, Alexander Kluttig, Nour E El Mokhtari, Diana Rubin, Arif B Ekici, André Reis, Christoph D Garlichs, Alistair S Hall, Gert Matthes, Christian Wittekind, Christian Hengstenberg, Francois Cambien, Stefan Schreiber, Karl Werdan, Thomas Meitinger, Markus Loeffler, Nilesh J Samani, Jeanette Erdmann, H-Erich Wichmann, Heribert Schunkert, Joachim Thiery
Year of publication:
2010
Volume:
3
Issue:
4
Issn:
1942-325X
Journal title abbreviated:
CIRC-CARDIOVASC GENE
Journal title long:
Circulation. Cardiovascular genetics
Impact factor:
3.719
Abstract:
Phytosterols are plant-derived sterols that are taken up from food and can serve as biomarkers of cholesterol uptake. Serum levels are under tight genetic control. We used a genomic approach to study the molecular regulation of serum phytosterol levels and potential links to coronary artery disease (CAD).A genome-wide association study for serum phytosterols (campesterol, sitosterol, brassicasterol) was conducted in a population-based sample from KORA (Cooperative Research in the Region of Augsburg) (n=1495) with subsequent replication in 2 additional samples (n=1157 and n=1760). Replicated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were tested for association with premature CAD in a metaanalysis of 11 different samples comprising 13 764 CAD cases and 13 630 healthy controls. Genetic variants in the ATP-binding hemitransporter ABCG8 and at the blood group ABO locus were significantly associated with serum phytosterols. Effects in ABCG8 were independently related to SNPs rs4245791 and rs41360247 (combined P=1.6 x 10(-50) and 6.2 x 10(-25), respectively; n=4412). Serum campesterol was elevated 12% for each rs4245791 T-allele. The same allele was associated with 40% decreased hepatic ABCG8 mRNA expression (P=0.009). Effects at the ABO locus were related to SNP rs657152 (combined P=9.4x10(-13)). Alleles of ABCG8 and ABO associated with elevated phytosterol levels displayed significant associations with increased CAD risk (rs4245791 odds ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.14; P=2.2 x 10(-6); rs657152 odds ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.19; P=9.4 x 10(-6)), whereas alleles at ABCG8 associated with reduced phytosterol levels were associated with reduced CAD risk (rs41360247 odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.91; P=1.3 x 10(-5)).Common variants in ABCG8 and ABO are strongly associated with serum phytosterol levels and show concordant and previously unknown associations with CAD.