Submitted on March 2, 2007
Revised on February 6, 2008
Accepted on February 7, 2008
Influence of ApoA5 gene variants on postprandial triglyceride metabolism: Impact of gender
Estibaliz Olano-Martin, Elizheeba C. Abraham, Rosalynn Gill-Garrison, Ana M. Valdes, Keith Grimaldi, Fiona Tang, Kim G. Jackson, Christine M. Williams, and Anne M. Minihane
Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AP
Corresponding Author: a.m.minihane{at}reading.ac.uk
Apolipoprotein A5 (ApoA5) polymorphisms have been consistently associated with variability in cardiovascular risk and fasting triglyceride (TG) levels. However, their impact on postprandial lipemia remains relatively unknown. In this study, we investigate the impact of two common ApoA5 polymorphisms (ApoA5 -1131 T>C and S19W) and apoA5 haplotypes on fasting and postprandial lipid metabolism in UK adults (n=259). Compared with the wild-type TT, apoA5 -1131 TC heterozygotes had 15% (P=0.057) 21% (P=0.002) and 25% (P=0.041) higher fasting TG, and postprandial TG area under the curve (AUC) and TG incremental AUC (IAUC). Significant (P=0.038) and near significant (P=0.057) gender x genotype interactions were observed in fasting TG and TG AUC, with a greater impact of genotype in males. Lower HDL-cholesterol was associated with the rare TC genotype (P=0.047). No significant association between the apoA5 S19W polymorphism and fasting or postprandial lipid responses was observed. Significant linkage disequilibrium was found between the apo A5 -1131 T>C and the apoC3 3238 C>G, with univariate analysis indicating an impact of this apoC3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on TG AUC (P=0.015). However, in linear regression analysis a significant independent association between fasting (P=0.010) and TG AUC (P=0.007) was only evident for the apoA5 -1131 T>C SNP. This data suggests that variation in the apoA5 gene locus is associated with differences in fasting and postprandial TG levels in healthy adults, although the molecular basis for this association remains to be elucidated.