Impact of ABCA1 Gene Polymorphisms on the Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in Uyghur Population of Xinjiang, China

Abstract

Background: ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 gene) is a principal gene involved in the reverse cholesterol transport and HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) formation, and ABCA1 polymorphism is related to the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). The objective of this study was to investigate genetic polymorphisms of the ABCA1 gene among Uyghur CAD patients in Xinjiang, China. Methods: The case-control study included 381 Uyghurs with CAD (258 males and 123 females) and 394 healthy Uyghurs (265 males and 129 females). The ABCA1 gene contains two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (rs2230806 and rs2230808) that were genotyped using SNP scan TM high-throughput genotyping technology. Results: Cases and controls were significantly different in rs2230806 allele distributions in the dominant model (GG vs. GA+AA) and additive model (AA+GG vs. GA) in Uyghur male subjects (p = 0.001 and p = 0.024, respectively). According to a univariate analysis, the GA genotype was correlated with a lessen risk of CAD (OR (odds ratio) = 0.543, 95% CI (confidence interval): 0.369–0.798;p = 0.002), as well as the AA genotype (OR = 0.536, 95% CI: 0.320–0.897;p = 0.018). After adjusting compounding factors such as TG (triglyceride), TC (total cholesterol), LP(a) (lipoprotein a), HDL-C, LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), diabetes, smoking, and hypertension, logistic regression analysis revealed that the AA genotype (OR = 0.570, 95% CI =0.328–0.991, p = 0.046) and GA genotype (OR = 0.484, 95% CI = 0.321–0.723, p = 0.001) of rs2230806 were still correlated with a reduced risk of CAD in Uyghur male subjects. Conclusions: A polymorphism in ABCA1 rs2230806 associated with the A allele in Uyghur men in Xinjiang, China, protects against the risk of CAD.