Genetic and environmental regulation of inflammatory CVD biomarkers Lp-PLA2 and IgM anti-PC

ObjectiveWe set out to investigate the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effect on two inflammatory CVD biomarkers; lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and anti-phosphorylcholine IgM (anti-PC). Their relationships and possible co-regulation with other established CVD biomarkers are also examined.MethodsLp-PLA2 activity (N = 1600) and anti-PC (N = 2036) levels were measured in elderly Swedish twins. Correlation analyses and heritability estimation were conducted by structural equation modeling.ResultsWe attribute 0.37 of the variance of Lp-PLA2 and 0.40 of anti-PC variance to genetic variance. In addition, a bivariate heritability of 0.33, 0.35 and 0.36 could be detected for levels of Lp-PLA2 together with ApoB, total cholesterol and LDL, respectively. Anti-PC was only weakly related to other biomarkers of CVD, which may suggest a more independent role of anti-PC as a biomarker.ConclusionsIn this large sample, Lp-PLA2 activity has lower heritability and higher environmental regulation than previously reported. Anti-PC levels are partly influenced by dominance genetics and appear to be regulated independently of more established CVD biomarkers.