Association Between ERBB2 and ERBB3 Polymorphisms and Dyslipidaemia and Serum Lipid Levels in a Chinese Population

Dyslipidaemia, characterised by abnormal lipid levels in the blood, is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In this case-control study, the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms in ERBB2 and ERBB3 genes and the risk of dyslipidaemia in a population from Northern Anhui, China was evaluated. Particularly, we analysed samples from 543 patients with dyslipidaemia and 648 healthy controls for five potentially functional polymorphisms using TaqMan assays. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between genotype and dyslipidaemia, adjusting for confounding variables. The ERBB2 rs2517955 and rs1058808 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were significantly associated with dyslipidaemia. The rs2517955 variant showed a protective effect against dyslipidaemia in males, individuals aged 55 years or younger, and those without diabetes. Similarly, the rs1058808 variant decreased the risk of dyslipidaemia in these stratified groups. Conversely, ERBB3 rs2292238 was associated with an increased risk of dyslipidaemia in patients with diabetes. Compared with the corresponding wild-type alleles, variant alleles of rs2517955 and rs1058808 were associated with a reduced risk of decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Additionally, ERBB2 rs2517955 variants were significantly linked to total cholesterol levels, whereas ERBB3 rs3741499 and rs877636 variants were significantly associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Our findings suggest that ERBB2 and ERBB3 polymorphisms are closely associated with the risk of dyslipidaemia in the Chinese population. These results provide valuable insights for further genetic studies of dyslipidaemia and the identification of potential therapeutic targets.