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A single nucleotide polymorphism in the FADS1/FADS2 gene is associated with plasma lipid profiles in two genetically similar Asian ethnic groups with distinctive differences in lifestyle

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Abstract

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) showed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FADS1/FADS2 were associated with plasma lipid concentrations in populations with European ancestry. We investigated the associations between the SNPs in FADS1/FADS2 and plasma concentrations of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in two Asian groups, i.e., Japanese and Mongolians. The genotype of rs174547 (T/C), found to be associated with triglyceride and HDL-C concentrations in the GWAS, was determined in 21,004 Japanese and 1,203 Mongolian individuals. Genotype–phenotype association was assessed by using multiple linear regression models, assuming an additive model of inheritance. The copy number of the rs174547 C allele was significantly associated with increased triglyceride levels (P = 1.5 × 10−6) and decreased HDL-C levels (P = 0.03) in the Japanese population. On the other hand, in the Mongolian population, the rs174547 C allele copy number was strongly associated with decreased LDL-C levels (P = 2.6 × 10−6), but was not associated with triglyceride and HDL-C levels. The linkage disequilibrium pattern and haplotype structures of SNPs around the FADS1/FADS2 locus showed no marked dissimilarity between Japanese and Mongolian individuals. The present data indicate that the FADS1/FADS2 locus can be added to the growing list of loci involved in polygenic dyslipidemia in Asians. Furthermore, the variable effects of FADS1/FADS2 on plasma lipid profiles in Asians may result from differences in the dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which serve as substrates for enzymes encoded by FADS1/FADS2.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) 19770214 and (A) 21687021. This publication was subsidized by JKA through its promotion founds from KEIRIN RACE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Human Genetics, Center for Community Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Kazuhiro Nakayama, Yoshiko Yanagisawa, Takaya Gotoh, Kazuhiro Yamanaka, Ayumi Ogawa & Sadahiko Iwamoto

  2. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakusiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Tumenbayer Bayasgalan, Fumiko Tazoe & Shun Ishibashi

  3. Health Science University of Mongolia, Choidog-3 Street, Ulaanbaatar, 210648, Mongolia

    Lkhagvasuren Munkhtulga

  4. Public Health Institute, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Ulziiburen Chimedregze

  5. Kagawa Nutrition University, 3-9-21 Chiyoda, Sakado, Saitama, 350-0288, Japan

    Yasuo Kagawa

Authors
  1. Kazuhiro Nakayama
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  2. Tumenbayer Bayasgalan
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  3. Fumiko Tazoe
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  4. Yoshiko Yanagisawa
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  5. Takaya Gotoh
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  6. Kazuhiro Yamanaka
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  7. Ayumi Ogawa
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  8. Lkhagvasuren Munkhtulga
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  9. Ulziiburen Chimedregze
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  10. Yasuo Kagawa
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  11. Shun Ishibashi
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  12. Sadahiko Iwamoto
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Jichi Medical University Promotion Team of a Large-scale Human Genome Bank for All over Japan

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sadahiko Iwamoto.

Additional information

Jichi Medical University Promotion Team of a Large-scale Human Genome Bank for All over Japan was formerly “The Jichi Community Genetics Team” in Nakayama et al. (2009).

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Nakayama, K., Bayasgalan, T., Tazoe, F. et al. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the FADS1/FADS2 gene is associated with plasma lipid profiles in two genetically similar Asian ethnic groups with distinctive differences in lifestyle. Hum Genet 127, 685–690 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-010-0815-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-010-0815-6

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