Role of rs1466535 low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) gene polymorphism in carotid artery disease

Abstract

Objective: An association between rs1466535 low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) gene polymorphism and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was recently demonstrated. It has not yet been defined if this association is specific for AAA or related to atherosclerosis per se. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the role of the rs1466535 polymorphism in conferring genetic susceptibility for carotid artery stenosis (CAS).

Methods: The rs1466535 polymorphism was evaluated in n = 814 patients with CAS and n = 814 subjects without evidence of carotid atherosclerosis by TaqMan technology.

Results: The percentage of T allele rs1466535 carriers was significantly higher in CAS patients (49.3%) than in controls (43.9%, p = 0.032). At the multiple logistic regression analysis, the allele T carrier status did not remain a significant determinant of CAS.

Conclusions: The rs1466535 LRP1 polymorphism is not a significant and independent risk factor for CAS. Our result suggests this polymorphism in the LRP1 gene is not associated with atherosclerosis in general as it is not associated with CAS (this study), whereas it is strictly associated with AAA (our previous paper).

Keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurysm; Atherosclerosis; Carotid artery disease; Genetic risk factor; LRP1 gene; Single nucleotide polymorphism.