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Serum bilirubin and genes controlling bilirubin concentrations as biomarkers for cardiovascular disease

Jing-Ping Lin1, Libor Vitek, Harvey A Schwertner

  • 1Office of Biostatistics Research, Division of Cardiovascular Science, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Clinical Chemistry
|August 10, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Serum bilirubin offers protection against cardiovascular disease (CVD). The UGT1A1 gene significantly influences bilirubin levels, impacting CVD risk and prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Serum bilirubin levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Bilirubin concentrations correlate with CVD risk factors like diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and BMI.
  • Limited data exists on genes regulating bilirubin and their link to CVD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review genes controlling bilirubin concentrations and their association with serum bilirubin and CVD risk.
  • To update findings on the relationship between serum bilirubin, CVD, and related conditions.
  • To explore the genetic basis of bilirubin's protective effects against CVD.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on bilirubin, genetics, and CVD.
  • Analysis of conditional linkage and genome-wide association studies.
  • Examination of UGT1A1 gene's role in bilirubin metabolism and CVD risk.

Main Results:

  • Consistent inverse association between bilirubin levels and CVD/related diseases.
  • UGT1A1 identified as the primary gene regulating serum bilirubin.
  • Homozygosity for UGT1A1*28 allele correlates with significantly reduced CVD risk.

Conclusions:

  • Serum bilirubin exhibits a protective role in CVD and associated diseases.
  • UGT1A1 is the key gene influencing serum bilirubin concentrations.
  • Interventions to increase serum bilirubin may aid in CVD prevention.
Abstract

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