Effect of NPC1L1 and HMGCR Genetic Variants With Premature Triple-Vessel Coronary Disease

NPC1L1 rs217434 A > G as a Novel Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Related to Dyslipidemia in a Korean Population

A relationship between cholesterol levels and Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) polymorphisms in diverse populations was found in previous studies. However, relevant research on this association in the Korean population is relatively scarce. Therefore, the current study sought to examine the correlation between the NPC1L1 rs217434 A > G polymorphism and clinical as well as biochemical variables pertaining to dyslipidemia in the Korean population. This cross-sectional single-center study included 1404 Korean subjects aged 20-86 years, grouped based on dyslipidemia presence (normal and dyslipidemia) and genotype (AA or AG). After adjusting for sex and age, it was discovered that the dyslipidemia group's BMI, diastolic blood pressure, glucose-related indicators, lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and parameters of oxidative stress were considerably different from the normal group's values. When grouped according to genotype, individuals in the AG group exhibited greater total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hs-CRP, and 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α in comparison to those in the AA group. Moreover, individuals with dyslipidemia and the AG genotype exhibited unfavorable outcomes for lipid profiles, markers related to glucose and inflammation, and markers of oxidative stress. This study provided evidence for a relationship between the NPC1L1 rs217434 A > G genotype and dyslipidemia in the Korean population, which highlights the potential of the NPC1L1 rs217434 A > G genotype as an early predictor of dyslipidemia.

Association of NPC1L1 and HMGCR gene polymorphisms with coronary artery calcification in patients with premature triple-vessel coronary disease

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a highly specific marker of atherosclerosis. Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) are the therapeutic targets of ezetimibe and statins, respectively, which are important for the progression of atherosclerosis. However, CAC's genetic susceptibility with above targets is still unknown. We aimed to investigate the association of NPC1L1 and HMGCR gene polymorphisms with CAC in patients with premature triple-vessel disease (PTVD).

METHODS

Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs11763759, rs4720470, rs2072183, rs2073547) of NPC1L1, and three SNPs (rs12916, rs2303151, rs4629571) of HMGCR were genotyped in 872 PTVD patients. According to the coronary angiography results, patients were divided into low-degree CAC group and high-degree CAC group.

RESULTS

A total of 872 PTVD patients (mean age, 47.71 ± 6.12; male, 72.8%) were finally included for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed no significant association between the SNPs of NPC1L1 and HMGCR genes and high-degree CAC in the total population (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis by gender revealed that the variant genotype (TT/CT) of rs4720470 on NPC1L1 gene was associated with increased risk for high-degree CAC in male patients only (OR = 1.505, 95% CI: 1.008-2.249, P = 0.046) in dominant model, but no significant association was found in female population, other SNPs of NPC1L1 and HMGCR genes (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We reported for the first time that the rs4720470 on NPC1L1 gene was associated with high-degree CAC in male patients with PTVD. In the future, whether therapies related to this target could reduce CAC and cardiovascular events deserves further investigation.

Effects of glyphosate exposure on gut-liver axis: Metabolomic and mechanistic analysis in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Glyphosate, one of the most widely used herbicide worldwide, is potentially harmful to non-target aquatic organisms. However, the environmental health risks regarding impacts on metabolism homeostasis and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we investigated bioaccumulation, metabolism disorders and mechanisms in grass carp after exposure to glyphosate. Higher accumulation of glyphosate and its major metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid, in the gut was detected. Intestinal inflammation, barrier damage and hepatic steatosis were caused by glyphosate exposure. Lipid metabolism disorder was confirmed by the decreased triglyceride, increased total cholesterol and lipoproteins in serum and decreased visceral fat. Metabolomics analysis found that glyphosate exposure significantly inhibited bile acids biosynthesis in liver with decreased total bile acids content, which was further supported by significant downregulations of cyp27a1, cyp8b1 and fxr. Moreover, the dysbiosis of gut microbiota contributed to the inflammation in liver and gut by increasing lipopolysaccharide, as well as to the declined bile acids circulation by reducing secondary bile acids. These results indicated that exposure to environmental levels of glyphosate generated higher bioaccumulation in gut, where evoked enterohepatic injury, intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and disturbed homeostasis of bile acids metabolism; then the functional dysregulation of the gut-liver axis possibly resulted in ultimate lipid metabolism disorder. These findings highlight the metabolism health risks of glyphosate exposure to fish in aquatic environment.

HMGCR gene polymorphism is associated with residual cholesterol risk in premature triple-vessel disease patients treated with moderate-intensity statins

BACKGROUND

To investigate the association of HMGCR and NPC1L1 gene polymorphisms with residual cholesterol risk (RCR) in patients with premature triple-vessel disease (PTVD).

METHODS

Three SNPs within HMGCR including rs12916, rs2303151, and rs4629571, and four SNPs within NPC1L1 including rs11763759, rs4720470, rs2072183, and rs2073547 were genotyped. RCR was defined as achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations after statins higher than 1.8 mmol/L (70 mg/dL).

RESULTS

Finally, a total of 609 PTVD patients treated with moderate-intensity statins were included who were divided into two groups: non-RCR group (n = 88) and RCR group (n = 521) according to LDL-C concentrations. Multivariate logistic regression showed the homozygotes for the minor allele of rs12916 within HMGCR gene (CC) were associated with a 2.08 times higher risk of RCR in recessive model [odds ratio (OR): 2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16-3.75]. In codominant model, the individuals homozygous for the minor allele of rs12916 (CC) were associated with a 2.26 times higher risk of RCR (OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.16-4.43) while the heterozygous individuals (CT) were not, compared with the individuals homozygous for the major allele of rs12916 (TT). There was no significant association between the SNPs within NPC1L1 gene and RCR in various models.

CONCLUSIONS

We first reported that the variant homozygous CC of rs12916 within HMGCR gene may incur a significantly higher risk of RCR in PTVD patients treated with statins, providing new insights into early individualized guidance of precise lipid-lowering treatment.