ABCA1 gene variants regulate postprandial lipid metabolism in healthy men

Genetic variants of ABCA1, an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, have been linked to altered atherosclerosis progression and fasting lipid concentration, mainly high-density lipoproteins and apolipoprotein A1; however, results from different studies have been inconsistent.

To further characterize the effects of ABCA1 variants in human postprandial lipid metabolism, we studied the influence of 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (i27943 [rs2575875]; i48168 [rs4149272]; R219K [rs2230806]) in the postprandial lipemia of 88 normolipidemic young men who were given a fatty meal. For i27943 and i48168 single nucleotide polymorphisms, fasting and postprandial values of apolipoprotein A1 were higher and postprandial lipemia was much lower in homozygotes for the major alleles, total triglycerides in plasma, and large triglyceride-rich lipoprotein triglycerides. These persons also showed a higher apolipoprotein A1/apolipoprotein B ratio. Major allele homozygotes for i48168 and i27943 showed additionally higher high-density lipoproteins and lower postprandial apolipoprotein B.

Our work shows that major allele homozygotes for ABCA1 single nucleotide polymorphisms i27943 and i48168 have a lower postprandial response as compared to minor allele carriers. This finding may further characterize the role of ABCA1 in lipid metabolism.