Association of a Human FABP1 Gene Promoter Region Polymorphism with Altered Serum Triglyceride Levels

PLoS One. 2015 Oct 6;10(10):e0139417. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139417. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), also known as fatty acid-binding protein 1 (FABP1), is a key regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism. Elevated FABP1 levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndromes. In this study, we examine the association of FABP1 gene promoter variants with serum FABP1 and lipid levels in a Chinese population. Four promoter single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of FABP1 gene were genotyped in a cross-sectional survey of healthy volunteers (n = 1,182) from Fuzhou city of China. Results showed that only the rs2919872 G>A variant was significantly associated with serum TG concentration(P = 0.032).Compared with the rs2919872 G allele, rs2919872 A allele contributed significantly to reduced serum TG concentration, and this allele dramatically decreased the FABP1 promoter activity(P < 0.05). The rs2919872 A allele carriers had considerably lower serum FABP1 levels than G allele carriers (P < 0.01). In the multivariable linear regression analysis, the rs2919872 A allele was negatively associated with serum FABP1 levels (β = -0.320, P = 0.003), while serum TG levels were positively associated with serum FABP1 levels (β = 0.487, P = 0.014). Our data suggest that compared with the rs2919872 G allele, the rs2919872 A allele reduces the transcriptional activity of FABP1 promoter, and thereby may link FABP1 gene variation to TG level in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dyslipidemias / blood
  • Dyslipidemias / genetics*
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Triglycerides / blood*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • FABP1 protein, human
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
  • Triglycerides

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,(http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/), Grant Number:No. 81473047 to X-EP, the National Natural Science Foundation of China,(http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/), Grant Number:No.81271822 to XL, the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian province (http://xmgl.fjkjt.gov.cn/), Grant Number: No. 2015J01303 to X-EP, the Training Program Foundation for Middle-aged and Young Talents from Sanitation System of Fujian province (http://www.fjhfpc.gov.cn/), Grant Number:No. 2014-ZQN-ZD-23 to X-EP, the New Century Excellent Talents in Fujian Province University, Grant Number:No. JA11106 and No. JA14127 to X-EP and the Foundation of Fujian Educational Committee (http://www.fjedu.gov.cn/), Grant Number:No. JK2013021 to Y-LW. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.