Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 gene polymorphisms and genetic susceptibility to abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Background: Previous data showed decreased low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) gene expression in peripheral blood cells of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients and an association between decreased expression of LRP5 and increased lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels in AAA. LRP5 gene is involved in bone, lipid, and glucose metabolism, and experimental studies showed that atherosclerotic lesions of ApoE:LRP5 double knockout mice were ~threefold greater than those in ApoE-knockout mice and were characterized by features of advanced atherosclerosis, with remarkable accumulation of foam cells and destruction of the internal elastic lamina. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of polymorphisms in LRP5 gene in determining genetic susceptibility to AAA.