Genetics
CETP variant rs708272 associates with HDL-C and LDL-C levels in 365 Turkish children (OMICS 2013)
Original title: Multi-locus candidate gene analyses of lipid levels in a pediatric Turkish cohort: lessons learned on LPL, CETP, LIPC, ABCA1, and SHBG
Researchers tested single- and multi-locus effects of six polymorphisms across five candidate genes (LPL, CETP, LIPC, ABCA1, SHBG) for association with low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides in 365 Turkish children and adolescents. The CETP variant rs708272 was associated with low HDL-C (allelic p=0.020, genotypic p=0.046), confirmed by an independent PRAT analysis (p=0.027); the protective B2 allele decreased the odds of low HDL-C in girls (OR=0.36, p=0.02), with a similar but non-significant direction in boys (OR=0.64, p=0.21). As a continuous trait, rs708272 was significantly associated with LDL-C in males (p=0.02, lowest with B2B2 genotype) and with HDL-C in girls (p=0.01, highest with B2B2 genotype), with a similar but weaker LDL-C trend in females (p=0.05). Multi-locus quantitative multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis identified this CETP variant as the best single-locus and overall model for predicting HDL-C in children, though the association appeared weaker and more sex-dependent than in prior adult studies.
Original abstract
Cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis precursors were examined in 365 Turkish children and adolescents. Study participants were recruited at five different state schools. We tested single and multi-locus effects of six polymorphisms from five candidate genes, chosen based on prior known association with lipid levels in adults, for association with low (≤10th percentile) high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high (≥90th percentile) triglycerides (TG), and the related continuous outcomes. We observed an association between CETP variant rs708272 and low HDL-C (allelic p=0.020, genotypic p=0.046), which was supported by an independent analysis, PRAT (PRAT control p=0.027). Sex-stratified logistic regression analysis showed that the B2 allele of rs708272 decreased odds of being in the lower tenth percentile of HDL-C measurements (OR=0.36, p=0.02) in girls; this direction of effect was also seen in boys but was not significant (OR=0.64, p=0.21). Logistic regression analysis also revealed that the T allele of rs6257 (SHBG) decreased odds of being in the top tenth percentile of TG measurements in boys (OR=0.43, p=0.03). Analysis of lipid levels as a continuous trait revealed a significant association between rs708272 (CETP) and LDL-C levels in males (p=0.02) with the B2B2 genotype group having the lowest mean LDL-C; the same direction of effect was also seen in females (p=0.05). An effect was also seen between rs708272 and HDL-C levels in girls (p=0.01), with the B2B2 genotype having the highest mean HDL-C levels. Multi-locus analysis, using quantitative multifactor dimensionality reduction (qMDR) identified the previously mentioned CETP variant as the best single locus model, and overall model, for predicting HDL-C levels in children. This study provides evidence for association between CETP and low HDL-C phenotype in children, but the results appear to be weaker in children than previous results in adults and may also be subject to gender effects.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.