OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between polymorphisms at -14 bp and zinc finger protein(ZNF) sites of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene promotor and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level and coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSPolymorphisms of Bme13901 restriction site at -14 bp and an insertion/deletion site of ACCCC in variable number of tandem repeats-zinc finger protein(VNTR-ZNF) of ABCA1 gene were detected using PCR in 260 CHD patients and 220 healthy subjects from a Chinese population in Tianjin.

RESULTSCT genotype was most common in both groups with no differences found in between (P> 0.05). No differences were found in the frequencies of the rare T allele for -14 bp (P> 0.05). For the -14 bp site, subjects with CT/TT genotype had a lower serum mean concentration of HDL-C compared with those with the CC genotype (P< 0.05). Genotypic frequencies of VNTR-ZNF were 6.2% for the inserted form, 43.8% for the deleted form and 50.0% for the inserted/deleted form. No significant difference was found in the distribution of allele and genotype, or in the levels of HDL-C between the two groups (P> 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe genotypes at -14 bp of ABCA1 gene are associated with the plasma level of HDL-C. HDL-C levels in T allele carriers were significantly lower (P< 0.05). No association was found between variations in ABCA1 VNTR-ZNF and plasma levels of HDL-C, or between the ABCA1 -14 bp and VNTR-ZNF polymorphisms and susceptibility for CHD.