Genetics
Three CETP variants are among only six SNPs linked to HDL cholesterol in European adolescents, first shown in this age group (Atherosclerosis 2011)
Original title: Associations between common genetic polymorphisms in the liver X receptor alpha and its target genes with the serum HDL-cholesterol concentration in adolescents of the HELENA Study
This study from the HELENA Study Group assessed whether genetic variability in NR1H3 (encoding LXRalpha) and its target genes, previously linked to HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) in adults, could be detected in adolescents, analyzing thirty-nine polymorphisms in NR1H3, ABCA1, APOE, CETP, PLTP, and LPL in 1144 European adolescents. The minor alleles of rs11039155 in NR1H3, rs2575879 in ABCA1, rs708272, rs17231506, and rs5882 in CETP, and rs328 in LPL were associated with higher HDL-C (p less than or equal to 0.0012), while the minor alleles of rs12221497 in NR1H3, rs1800978 in ABCA1, and the APOE epsilon4 allele were associated with lower HDL-C (p less than or equal to 0.01). The combined set of associated polymorphisms accounted for about 6.6% of the variance in HDL-C. The authors report the first demonstration that these NR1H3-pathway gene polymorphisms contribute to HDL-C variance in adolescence.
Original abstract
Objective: Genetic variability in the NR1H3 gene (encoding LXRα) and in several of its target genes is associated with serum HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations. We sought to assess if these associations could be detected in adolescents.
Methods: Thirty-nine polymorphisms in NR1H3, ABCA1, APOE, CETP, PLTP and LPL were analysed in the HELENA study (n = 1144 European adolescents).
Results: The minor alleles of rs11039155 in NR1H3, rs2575879 in ABCA1, rs708272, rs17231506 and rs5882 in CETP and rs328 in LPL were associated with higher serum HDL-C concentrations (p ≤ 0.0012). The minor alleles of rs12221497 in NR1H3, rs1800978 in ABCA1 and the APOE ɛ4 allele were associated with lower HDL-C concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). The combined set of associated polymorphisms accounted for ∼6.6% of the variance in HDL-C.
Conclusion: We report for the first time that polymorphisms in NR1H3 and its target genes ABCA1, APOE, CETP and LPL contribute to the genetic variance for HDL-C concentrations in adolescence.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.