Evidence for a QTL affecting low levels of apolipoprotein B and low-density lipoprotein on chromosome 10 in Caucasian families

Richard Sherva, Pin Yue, Gustav Schonfeld, and Rossalind J. Neuman

Psychiatry, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO 63110

Corresponding Author: roz{at}psychiatry.wustl.edu

Elevated plasma apolipoprotein B (apoB) and LDL cholesterol levels increase cardiovascular disease risk. These highly correlated measures may be partially controlled by common genetic polymorphisms. To identify chromosomal regions that contain genes causing low plasma levels of one or both parameters in Caucasian families ascertained for familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL), we conducted a whole-genome scan using 443 microsatellite markers typed in 9 multigenerational families with at least two members with FHBL. Both variance components and regression-based linkage methods were used to identify regions of interest. Common linkage regions were identified for both measures on chromosomes 10q25.1-10q26.11 (max LOD=4.2 for LDL, max LOD=3.5 for apoB) and 6q24.3 (max LOD=1.46 for LDL, max LOD=1.84 for apoB). There was also evidence for linkage to apoB on chromosome 13q13.2 (LOD=1.97), and to LDL on chromosome 3p14.1 at 94 cM (LOD=1.52). Bivariate linkage analysis provided further evidence for loci contributing to both traits (6q24.3, LOD=1.43; 10q25.1 LOD=1.74). We evaluated SNPs in genes within our linkage regions to identify variants associated with apoB or LDL levels. The most significant finding was for rs2277205 in the 5 UTR of ACADSB and LDL (P=10^-7. Three additional SNPs were associated with apoB and/or LDL (P<0.01). Although only the linkage signal on chromosome 10 reached genomewide statistical significance, there are likely multiple chromosomal regions with variants that contribute to low levels of apoB and LDL, and may protect against coronary heart disease.

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