Association of apolipoprotein A5 gene polymorphisms and serum lipid levels

Background and aimsApolipoprotein (APO) A5 gene polymorphisms have been associated with increased plasma triglyceride (TG), but the results are inconsistent. The present study was undertaken to detect the APOA5 gene polymorphisms and their associations with lipid profiles in the Guangxi Hei Yi Zhuang and Han populations.Methods and resultsGenotyping of the APOA5 −1131T>C, c.553G>T and c.457G>A was performed in 490 subjects of Hei Yi Zhuang and 540 participants of Han Chinese aged 15–89 years. The −1131C allele frequency was higher in high total cholesterol (TC) than in normal TC subgroups in both the ethnic groups (P < 0.05). The c.553T allele frequency was higher in high TG than in normal TG subgroups (P < 0.01), in high APOB than in normal APOB subgroups in Hei Yi Zhuang (P < 0.05), or in females than in males in Han (P < 0.01). The c.457A allele frequency in Han was higher in high TG than in normal TG subgroups, in low APOA1 than in normal APOA1 subgroups, in males than in females, or in normal APOB than in high APOB subgroups (P < 0.05–0.01). The levels of TC, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and APOB in Hei Yi Zhuang were correlated with −1131T>C genotype or allele, and the levels of TG were associated with c.553G>T genotype (P < 0.05). The levels of TG, APOA1 and APOB in Han were correlated with c.457G>A genotype or allele, and the levels of TC were associated with −1131T>C allele (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe differences in the lipid profiles between the two ethnic groups might partly result from different APOA5 gene–environmental interactions.