Association of apolipoprotein J polymorphism 1598delT with coronary artery disease and lipoprotein levels.

Objectives: To investigate a polymorphism of the apolipoprotein J (APOJ) gene in relation to coronary artery disease (CAD) and lipid variables in a Chinese male population of genetically unrelated individuals.

Methods: In this study, we recruited 126 control male subjects and 237 CAD male patients. CAD was defined as a fixed stenotic lesion with luminal narrowing ≥50% in at least one of the major or minor coronary arteries. In cases with documented myocardial infarction, only those rated as fully recovered for more than 3 months were enrolled. Patients with acute or chronic infectious diseases and those with malignancies were excluded. All subjects with a fasting serum triglyceride level higher than 300 mg/dl were likewise excluded.

Results: We identified a single nucleotide polymorphism, 1598delT, and showed its association with CAD. Subjects with the I/I genotype showed a significantly higher CAD risk compared to those with the D/D genotype (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.11-4.94, p = 0.026). Patients with the I/I genotype also had abnormal levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol associated with CAD.

Conclusions: Our data indicated that the APOJ single nucleotide polymorphism (1598delT) is associated with risk factors for CAD in a Chinese population.