Genetic variation in ABC G5/G8 and NPC1L1 impact cholesterol response to plant sterols in hypercholesterolemic men

Lipids. 2008 Dec;43(12):1155-64. doi: 10.1007/s11745-008-3241-y. Epub 2008 Oct 11.

Abstract

ATP-binding cassette hetero-dimeric transporters G5 and G8 (ABCG5/G8) have been postulated to mediate intestinal cholesterol efflux, whereas Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) protein is believed to be essential for intestinal cholesterol influx. The individual or combined genetic markers, such as single nuclear polymorphisms (SNPs), of these two transporter genes may explain inter-individual variations in plasma cholesterol response following plant sterol (PS) intervention. The present study was aimed at investigating the association between ABCG5/G8 and NPC1L1 genotype SNPs with sterol absorption and corresponding plasma concentrations. The study used a 4-week crossover design with 82 hypercholesterolemic men characterized by high vs. low basal plasma PS concentrations consuming spreads with or without 2 g/day of PS. For the ABCG8 1289 C > A (T400 K) polymorphism, the A allele carriers with high basal plasma PS concentrations demonstrated a 3.9-fold greater reduction (p < 0.05) in serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) than their low basal plasma PS counterparts. For the NPC1L1 haplotype of 872 C > G (L272L) and 3929 G > A (Y1291Y), individuals carrying mutant alleles showed a 2.4-fold greater (p < 0.05) reduction in LDL-C levels, compared to wild type counterparts. Results suggest that genetic and metabolic biomarkers together may predict inter-individual lipid level responsiveness to PS-intervention, and thus could be useful in devising individualized cholesterol lowering strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 5
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 8
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters* / genetics
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters* / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / metabolism*
  • Diet
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia* / genetics
  • Hypercholesterolemia* / metabolism
  • Lipoproteins* / genetics
  • Lipoproteins* / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins* / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins* / metabolism
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Plants / chemistry
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Sterols* / administration & dosage
  • Sterols* / metabolism

Substances

  • ABCG5 protein, human
  • ABCG8 protein, human
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 5
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 8
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Lipoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • NPC1L1 protein, human
  • Sterols
  • Cholesterol