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Updated: May 9, 2026

LDL Cholesterol Uptake Assay Using Live Cell Imaging Analysis with Cell Health Monitoring
Published on: November 17, 2018
Genetic variation in the PPARA gene is associated with simvastatin-mediated cholesterol reduction in the Rotterdam
Catherine E de Keyser1, Matthijs L Becker, André G Uitterlinden
1Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Aim:
Recently, minor alleles of two strongly linked polymorphisms in the PPARA gene, rs4253728 G>A and rs4823613 A>G, were related to decreased CYP3A4 expression and activity. We studied whether they were associated with the cholesterol-lowering effect of simvastatin.
Materials & Methods:
We identified 123 incident users with cholesterol measurements before and after starting statin therapy in a prospective population-based cohort study. Associations between PPARA polymorphisms and change in total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels were analyzed using linear regression.
Results:
The minor G allele of the rs4823613 A>G polymorphism was associated with a 0.258 mmol/l (95% CI: -0.470 to -0.046) and a 0.294 mmol/l (95% CI: -0.495 to -0.093) larger reduction in total and LDL-cholesterol, respectively, after starting simvastatin therapy. Results were similar for the rs4253728 G>A polymorphism.
Conclusion:
The minor alleles of the PPARA rs4253728 and rs4823613 polymorphisms are associated with a better total and LDL-cholesterol-lowering response to simvastatin, possibly through influence on CYP3A4.
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