Genetic variants at the APOE, lipoprotein lipase (LpL), cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), and endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) genes and coronary artery disease (CAD): CETP Taq1 B2B2 associates with lower risk of CAD in Asian Indians

Coronary artery disease (CAD) arises due to a complex interplay between the environment and genetic factors. Alterations in many of the biomarkers such as lipids and lipoprotein levels are characteristic of CAD. The phenotypes themselves have genetic determinants, and many single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified which influence them. The current study aims to evaluate the effect of six common polymorphisms at four loci, lipoprotein lipase (D9N, N291S, S447X), apolipoprotein E (APOE), cholesteryl ester transfer protein (C277T), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (E298D), on lipid and lipoprotein levels and its association with CAD. Genotyping for the SNPs was done in 240 Indians of which 90 had proven CAD. The other 150 were clinically free from CAD and acted as controls. Relation of genetic variants, clinical history, and biochemical parameters with CAD were analyzed by multiple regression analysis. The frequency of the B2 allele in the CETP gene was significantly lower in cases than in controls (0.40 vs 0.49, P = 0.042). Significant association of CETP Taq1B SNP was seen with total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Multivariate analysis accounting for clinical and metabolic predictors of CAD showed smoking to be a significant risk factor (odds ratio (OR) 4.347, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.888–10.012, P = 0.001) and the CETP B2 variant imparting atheroprotection (OR 0.312, 95% CI 0.116–0.841, P = 0.021) possibly through a favorable lipid profile. None of the other SNPs were associated with the risk of CAD