8q24.3 and 11q25 chromosomal loci association with low HDL-C in metabolic syndrome

Eur J Clin Invest 2011; 41 (10): 1105–1112

Background High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are low in Iranians. Low HDL-C is the most frequent phenotype in metabolic syndrome (MetS) among the Iranian population (32%). This has been claimed to be related to genetic factors.

Materials and methods To investigate possible genes linked to this disorder, 12 microsatellite markers were selected. They were used in 107 families with MetS and low HDL-C to analyse relevant association and linkage signals.

Result Family-based association tests under the biallelic mode gave many positive association signals. Higher association – after correction for multiple testing – was found to be linked with marker D8S1743 and D11S1304 (P < 0·003). The obtained results suggested evidence for association with regions on chromosome 8, 11 and to a lesser degree on chromosome 16. Nonparametric linkage analysis performed by Merlin software gave no significant correlation for any of the chromosomal regions. By considering only families with positive Nonparametric Logarithm of odds (LOD) scores, higher association can clearly be visible with D16S3096 and D11S934.

Conclusions These results suggest that 8q22–24; 11q23–25 and 16q23–24 regions are very likely to contain genes that control HDL-C level in Iranian families with metabolic syndrome.