Genetics
The CETP locus reaches genome-wide significance for baseline Lp-PLA2 mass in a JUPITER-trial GWAS of 6,851 statin-treated participants (Circ Cardiovasc Genet 2012)
Original title: Genome-wide association study evaluating lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 mass and activity at baseline and after rosuvastatin therapy
Performing a genome-wide association study of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) mass and activity, at baseline and after 12 months of rosuvastatin 20 mg/day, in 6851 JUPITER trial participants of European ancestry, with replication in 13 664 CHARGE Consortium participants, researchers identified and replicated novel genome-wide significant associations at MS4A4E and TMEM49 for baseline Lp-PLA2 activity (joint P=2.0x10-11 and P=2.9x10-9). They also identified and replicated genome-wide significant associations (P less than 5x10-8) for baseline Lp-PLA2 mass at the CETP locus, and for Lp-PLA2 activity at APOC1-APOE and PLA2G7. Among 2673 statin-allocated participants, both Lp-PLA2 mass and activity fell by more than 30% and LDL cholesterol by 50% after 12 months of therapy, establishing CETP as a genetic determinant of this proinflammatory cardiovascular biomarker.
Original abstract
Background: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) is a proinflammatory enzyme bound to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other circulating lipoproteins. Two measures of Lp-PLA(2), mass and activity, are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Data are sparse regarding genetic determinants of Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity, and no prior data are available addressing genetic determinants of statin-induced changes for this proinflammatory biomarker.
Methods And Results: We performed a genome-wide association study of Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity at baseline and after 12 months of rosuvastatin therapy (20 mg/d) among 6851 participants of European ancestry from the Justification for Use of Statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER) and performed replication in a meta-analysis of 13 664 participants from the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium. Novel associations were identified and replicated at MS4A4E and TMEM49 for baseline Lp-PLA(2) activity with genome-wide significant joint P values (P=2.0 × 10(-11) and P=2.9 × 10(-9), respectively). In addition, genome-wide associations (P<5 × 10(-8)) were identified and replicated for baseline Lp-PLA(2) mass at CETP and for Lp-PLA(2) activity at the APOC1-APOE and PLA2G7 loci. Among 2673 statin-allocated participants, both Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity were reduced by >30% and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 50% after 12 months of statin therapy (P<0.001 for both). Variants in ABCG2 and LPA were associated with change in statin-induced Lp-PLA(2) activity at genome-wide significance but were substantially attenuated after adjustment for statin-induced changes in lipid levels.
Conclusions: Genome-wide significant associations at MS4A4E and TMEM49 may reflect novel influences on circulating levels of Lp-PLA(2) activity. In addition, genome-wide significant associations with rosuvastatin-induced change in Lp-PLA(2) activity were observed in ABCG2 and LPA, likely because of their impact on statin-induced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.