The T111I variant in the endothelial lipase gene and risk of coronary heart disease in three independent populations

Endothelial lipase (LIPG) is implicated in the metabolism of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Small studies in selected populations have reported higher HDL-C levels among carriers of the common T111I variant in LIPG, but whether this variant is associated with plasma lipids and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the general population is unclear. The objective of this study was to address the associations of the T111I variant with plasma lipids and risk of CHD in three independent prospective studies of generally healthy men and women.

The T111I variant was genotyped in case-control studies of CHD nested within the Diet, Cancer, and Health study with 998 cases, Nurses' Health Study with 241 cases, and Health Professionals Follow-up Study with 262 cases. The minor allele frequency in the combined pool of controls was 0.29. The T111I variant was not associated with HDL-C or any other lipid and lipoprotein measures. Compared with wildtype homozygotes, the pooled estimate for risk of CHD was 0.95 (0.85-1.06) per T111I allele.

Our analysis among healthy Caucasian men and women from three independent studies does not support an association between the T111I variant and HDL-C, other plasma lipids, or risk of CHD.