Ethnic differences in hepatic lipase and HDL in Japanese, black, and white Americans

Abstract

Hepatic lipase activity (HLA) is a determinant of HDL levels, and a polymorphism in the hepatic lipase gene ( LIPC ) promoter (C ؊ 514T) has been hypothesized to account for higher HDL in blacks and Japanese compared with whites. To determine whether the polymorphism contributes to ethnic differences in HDL, we compared LIPC allele frequencies and HLA in Japanese American (JA; n ‫؍‬ 84), black American (BA; n ‫؍‬ 94), and white American (WA; n ‫؍‬ 110) men and women. The LIPC polymorphism was associated with HLA in all cohorts (BA, P ‫؍‬ 0.012; JA, P ‫؍‬ 0.008; WA, P ‫؍‬ 0.009). WA men had 49% and 58% higher HLA than BA and JA men, respectively (both P Ͻ 0.05), yet no differences in HLA were found between the women. The higher HLA in the WA men remained after adjustment for the LIPC polymorphism's effect on HLA ( P ‫؍‬ 0.037) but was erased after adjustment for waist-to-hip-ratio ( P ‫؍‬ 0.46). Although the WA men had lower HDL and HDL 3 than the JA and BA men (all P Ͻ 0.05), there were no differences in HDL 2 , implying that variance in HLA may not underlie the ethnic differences in HDL levels. These results suggest that 1 ) the LIPC promoter polymorphism contributes to variation in HLA and HDL 2 in the three ethnic groups; 2 ) WA men had higher HLA than BA and JA men, related to ethnic differences in central adiposity but not LIPC allele frequency; and 3 ) the higher HLA in WA men did not contribute to the ethnic differences in HDL, as the differences in HDL were made up entirely of differences in HDL 3 and not HDL 2 .

Hepatic Lipase Gene Variant −514C>T Is Associated With Lipoprotein and Insulin Sensitivity Response to Regular Exercise

“…This association remained after exercise training. Blacks had lower postheparin hepatic lipase activity, an ethnic difference found in both sexes and concordant with previous observations (19,20). Several in vitro studies have reported a 30 -40% reduction in transcriptional activity in cells transfected with the T allele compared with the C allele (rev.…”

In silico modeling of the dynamics of low density lipoprotein composition via a single plasma sample

“…This amounted to r 1 = 2.57 and r 1 = 1.12 for men and women, respectively. This difference concurs closely with the literature (45). Here the HL activity of white women is on average 56% lower than that in white men.…”

Association of CETP and LIPC Gene Polymorphisms with HDL and LDL Sub-fraction Levels in a Group of Indian Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Regression analysis showed that this effect was dependent on gender and triglyceride levels. The latter effect could be due to the association of decreased HL activity with T allele [5,24,30] and highlights the importance of triglycerides and gene-diet interactions in modulating lipid and lipoprotein levels [16]. The interaction between total fat intake and HL polymorphism is known to affect HDL-C levels [23].…”

“…Earlier studies have focused on HDL subfractions, HDL 2 and HDL 3 , and their role in CAD, however there is a controversy regarding which of these is more cardioprotective [3,4]. The formation of these subfractions is influenced by polymorphisms in the hepatic lipase (LIPC) [5,6] and cholesteryl ester (CE) transfer protein (CETP) [7] genes, both of which participate in lipoprotein metabolism.…”