Association of rs5888 SNP in SCARB1 gene with coronary artery disease Study of a Han Chinese population

Background The scavenger receptor class B type I (SCARB1) gene plays an important role in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) metabolism and may be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The rs5888 (C/T) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the SCARB1 gene is functional, and we therefore examined the association between rs5888 and CAD. Methods The rs5888 genotypes were analyzed in 287 Chinese patients with CAD and 367 controls via the high-resolution melting curve (HRM) method. Allele frequency and genotype distribution were compared. The levels of plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were also compared between the groups with different genotypes. Results The proportion of subjects with TT and CT genotypes in the control group was significantly higher than that in the CAD group (50.95% vs. 32.75%, p < 0.001). The frequency of individuals with T alleles in the control group was significantly higher than that in the CAD group (28.75% vs. 17.25%, p < 0.001). In the combined population (CAD and control groups), the HDL-C concentration in individuals with the TT genotype was significantly higher than in those with the CT genotype (1.81 +/- 1.29 vs. 1.42 +/- 0.56, p = 0.026) or in those with the CC genotype (1.81 +/- 1.29 vs. 1.42 +/- 0.72, p = 0.021). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the rs5888 SNP in the SCARB1 gene is associated with CAD; furthermore, the TT genotype is associated with a higher HDL-C concentration.