Variants in the APOA5 gene region and the response to combination therapy with statins and fenofibric acid in a randomized clinical trial of individuals with mixed dyslipidemia

ObjectiveAtherogenic dyslipidemia is highly associated with coronary heart disease and is characterized by elevated triglycerides (TG), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The combination of statins and fibrates is a common modality to treat individuals with atherogenic dyslipidemia.We sought to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with HDL-C, TG, and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA-I) response to combination therapy with statins and fenofibric acid (FA) in individuals with atherogenic dyslipidemia.Methods2228 individuals with mixed dyslipidemia who were participating in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled study comparing FA alone, in combination with a statin, or statin alone for a 12-week period, were genotyped for 304 candidate SNPs. A multivariate linear regression analysis for percent change in HDL-C, ApoA-I and TG levels was performed.ResultsSNPs in the apolipoprotein (APO) A5-ZNF259 region rs3741298 (P = 1.8 × 10−7), rs964184 (P = 3.6 × 10−6), rs651821 (P = 4.5 × 10−5), and rs10750097 (P = 1 × 10−4), were significantly associated with HDL-C response to combination therapy with statins and FA, with a similar association identified for ApoA-I. A haplotype composed of the minor alleles of SNPs rs3741298, rs964184, and rs10750097, was associated with a positive response to statins and FA (P = 8.7 × 10−7) and had a frequency of 18% in the study population.ConclusionIn a population with atherogenic dyslipidemia, common SNPs and haplotypes within the APOA5-ZNF259 region are highly associated with HDL-C and ApoA-I response to combination therapy with statins and FA.